During a debate at the European Parliament’s plenary session in Strasbourg, dedicated to the presentation of the European plan for affordable housing, Marlena Maląg, a Law and Justice MEP, highlighted the direct link between housing policy, the demographic crisis, and the social exclusion of young families and seniors.
The MEP emphasized that the demographic crisis in Europe does not begin in statistical tables, but in the everyday housing realities of Europeans. “Demographics don’t start with statistics. They start in homes. Young people are putting off having children not because they don’t want a family, but because they have nowhere to start one,” she noted.
Marlena Maląg drew attention to the rapid rise in housing prices, which is significantly outpacing both the aspirations of young people and the rate of wage growth, thereby limiting their real opportunities to live independently and start families.
At the same time, the MEP raised the issue of the situation facing seniors, who constitute an increasingly large demographic group in the European Union. “Today, we have seniors trapped within their own four walls: on the fourth floor without an elevator, spatially and socially excluded. In the 21st century, accessibility is still sometimes a luxury,” she emphasized.
The MEP noted that the European Union should not take the place of member states in building housing, but must set a clear and responsible direction for housing policy.
“We can and must expect the EU to set a course that puts people at the center: accessibility, functionality, safety, and dignity at every stage of life,” she said.
In conclusion, Marlena Maląg emphasized that an effective response to the demographic crisis requires addressing basic needs. “If we want to tackle the demographic crisis, we must start with housing that does not trap people in helplessness but opens them up to the future,” the MEP concluded.
