EDP brings Europe’s housing response to Cork
The European Democratic Party held a European housing event on Tuesday, 9 June 2026, in Cork, between Ballincollig and the city centre, together with Ciarán Mullooly MEP, Member of the European Parliament for Independent Ireland and Vice Chair of the European Parliament Housing Crisis Committee. The event brought together European representatives, local stakeholders, citizens and housing professionals to address a crisis affecting families, young people, workers and first-time buyers across many EU countries.
For the EDP, bringing the discussion to Cork meant connecting local experience with a pragmatic European response focused on investment, simplification and faster delivery of affordable and social housing. Sandro Gozi MEP, Secretary General of the European Democratic Party and Member of the European Parliament for Renew Europe, framed housing as a political priority linked to social cohesion, competitiveness and democratic trust: “The housing crisis is no longer a local or national issue alone: it has become a European challenge that affects social cohesion, competitiveness and the confidence of citizens in our democracies. When young people, families and workers cannot find an affordable home, Europe must act. The European Democratic Party believes that the EU can and should play a stronger role by supporting investment, simplifying rules, helping cities and regions deliver faster, and making housing a central priority of the European agenda.”
During the day, participants met individuals and families affected by housing difficulties, frontline housing representatives and local actors working on the ground. A visit to a housing construction site in Cork allowed the discussion to focus not only on the causes of the crisis, but also on practical tools to speed up delivery and reduce the growing gap between incomes and housing costs.
Ciarán Mullooly underlined the political and social importance of the discussion, stating that “Housing is now one of the defining issues facing a generation of Europeans. Young people, working families and middle-income earners increasingly feel locked out of home ownership and secure housing. Europe cannot solve every problem, but it can help remove barriers, support investment and speed up delivery. Cork is the ideal location for this important discussion because Ireland is experiencing the housing crisis at its most acute.” German MEP Lukas Sieper also joined the second part of the event, helping to strengthen the European dimension of the debate and the exchange between different national experiences within the Renew family.
The EDP presented policy proposals aimed at speeding up housing delivery, unlocking affordable homes, supporting first-time buyers, bringing vacant homes back into use, strengthening Housing First initiatives, regulating short-term rentals in pressured areas and mobilising European investment for affordable housing. This approach reflects a centrist and liberal vision: using Europe to remove barriers, support cities and regions, protect the most vulnerable and deliver practical answers without extremes.
From Cork, the European Democratic Party confirms its commitment to making housing a central priority on the European agenda. The work launched with MEPs, local representatives and housing stakeholders will continue in the European Parliament and within the Renew family, with the aim of turning local dialogue into measures that are useful for citizens, families and communities.
