Today in Strasbourg, during the ongoing plenary session of the European Parliament, a discussion took place titled “Ensuring Sustainable, Decent, and Affordable Housing in Europe—Encouraging Investment, Private and Public Housing Programs.” PiS MEPs Marlena Maląg, Waldemar Buda, and Anna Zalewska took the floor during the debate, identifying the EU’s climate policy as the main cause of high housing prices.
Marlena Maląg noted that, as a result of more than 50 years of a centrally planned economy, countries in Central and Eastern Europe are facing the problem of unmet housing needs and poor housing conditions. In light of the growing demographic crisis, this affects not only young people but also seniors and European society as a whole. The PiS MEP stated that, following the adoption of the Construction Directive in March, a construction revolution lies ahead. “However, we must remember to maintain a balance between expectations and the resources we will have at our disposal, so that young people’s dreams of owning a home—and often, consequently, of starting a family—do not come to nothing,” she emphasized. Given that housing will be part of a commissioner’s portfolio for the first time, the MEP called for caution and a realistic assessment of housing needs, so that overly ambitious climate goals do not overshadow genuine social needs or serve as a boon for developers.
Waldemar Buda recalled previous discussions, including those regarding the massive problems in the automotive market, the agricultural sector, and the chemical industry. He stated that every sector of the economy is grappling with the same problems. “Show me any industry that would say, ‘Everything’s great; we’re heading in the right direction.’ Each one will say exactly the same thing,” he said. He emphasized that, above all, the causes of the current situation must be identified. In Buda’s view, appointing a commissioner for housing is insufficient and will, in fact, change nothing. “There is only one cause—the Green Deal, which led to this,” said the PiS MEP. He noted that as a result of the climate policy pushed by the EU, all industries are gradually losing their competitive edge on the global market. “No industry is currently competitive with other regions of the world. The same is true for the construction industry,” the Polish politician noted, pointing to differences in electricity prices, for example, where the cost per kWh in Europe is 30 cents, in the U.S. 14 cents, and in China just 8 cents. “This is the root of these problems. If we don’t realize this, we’ll keep running into more of them,” Buda warned. According to the MEP, the top priority is to halt the Buildings Directive and emissions payments for buildings, as these will cause a 30 percent increase in real estate prices. “So let’s identify the real cause and tackle it, rather than spouting nonsense,” he urged.
Anna Zalewska noted that the EU is currently facing many problems—crises in housing, the automotive industry, the refugee situation, and security. “This is the kind of community the outgoing Commission is leaving behind,” stated the PiS MEP, pointing out that despite this, President von der Leyen has been given the green light to “continue leading us toward the abyss.” “I have bad news for Europeans, especially young people—prices for apartments and houses are skyrocketing,” — Zalewska warned, pointing out that the Energy Efficiency Directive and regulations on ecodesign, construction products, and carbon offset certification are to blame. “This will mean that housing will no longer just be a luxury good, but an unattainable one,” said the Polish politician, adding that the Commission wants to impose additional taxes for failure to comply with its recommendations, such as those regarding home heating. “A dramatic situation is looming. Therefore, these proposals must be thrown in the trash,” she urged.
