Τhe role of trade unions in affordable housing, gender equality, and tackling precarious work

Towards a more inclusive EU: The role of tradeunions in affordable housing, gender equality, and tackling precarious work

A hybrid (online & in Brussels) lunch time CESI@noon

Thursday, April 24th 2024, 12:00-14:30

light lunch included

in English language

Registration here

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In times of increasing housing prices, and thus housing scarcity, those facing homelessness or housing difficulties are often either unemployed or in precarious, low-wage employment. Within this group, women and single mothers make up a considerable share.

Strong European Union policies should promote more inclusive and gender-focused regulations and incentives, including for instance:

• equal pay for equal work and higher wages in low-paid, female-dominated sectors such as care;
• more affordable and available childcare, which enables in particular also single mothers to continue to pursue their career and remain financially independent;
• stronger tenant protections and other assistance programmes, to directly help precarious groups like single mothers with low revenues with their housing.

Housing accessibility in the EU is a growing challenge, marked by rising prices and a shortage of affordable housing. Between 2010 and 2022, rents increased by 19% and housing prices by 47%, outpacing income growth. In 2022, 10% of EU residents faced excessive housing costs, with a higher impact on those at risk of poverty^[1]. Additionally, around 900,000 people are homeless. Ensuring affordable and decent housing is essential for the economic development and social cohesion in the EU – and not least for improving women’s rights.

CESI invites you to a youth-led debate on how the EU can guarantee more accessible and affordable housing for everyone, especially women and single mothers. In the context of its EU-cofunded eQualPRO project, CESI proposes an in-depth debate on what policy solutions could be made available at EU level to make housing more affordable, particularly for affected (young) women.

The panel will address questions including:

1. How will young people, women, single mothers and other vulnerable groups be helped by addressing the housing crisis at EU level?
2. What policy recommendations and legislative proposals could the EU's first Commissioner for Energy and Housing introduce to address gaps in housing opportunities for vulnerable groups, particularly women and single mothers?
3. How can the need for more affordable housing be balanced with the objectives of the EU Green Deal, addressing energy poverty, and promoting social investments?
4. What are the objectives of the newly formed European Parliament Intergroup on ‘Housing’?

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Provisional agenda

#SocialEurope #EU2030 #eQualPRO

12:00     Welcome and light lunch

12:30     Welcome address & introductions

Stefan Moser, Housing Task Force of the Commissioner for Energy and Housing (tbc)

Matthäus Fandrejewski, dbb Jugend and CESI Youth Representative

12:40     Marit Maij, member of the European Parliament, Greens/PvdA

12:50     Alice Pitinni, Research Director at Housing Europe

13:00     Marie Hyland, Eurofound

13:10     Ruth Paserman, European Commission

13:20     Discussions with participants

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[1] https://belgian-presidency.consilium.europa.eu/en/news/liege-declaration-towards-affordable-decent-and-sustainable-housing-for-all/consulted February 25th 2025

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