Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou is in Luxembourg today to chair a meeting of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) in its housing configuration, as part of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU.

According to the Interior Ministry, EU ministers responsible for housing are expected to adopt the first Council conclusions on housing, a step Nicosia sees as an important marker for European cooperation in a field that has become increasingly pressing across the bloc. 

The conclusions focus on the need for housing policies that respond to demographic, social and economic changes, while respecting the principle of subsidiarity and the responsibilities of member states. 

They also call for stronger cooperation between EU countries, particularly through the exchange of knowledge, data and best practices. 

The meeting will also include a policy debate on housing security for students and middle-income households, with ministers expected to discuss shared challenges and possible policy responses to improve access to quality, safe and affordable housing. 

The issue has been one of the social priorities of the Cyprus Presidency, which has sought to place affordable housing higher on the EU agenda. 

Earlier this year, Cyprus also hosted an informal ministerial meeting on housing, where ministers discussed rising costs, housing shortages and demographic pressures affecting member states. 

Monday’s EPSCO discussion comes as many European countries face growing pressure from higher rents, limited supply and weaker access to housing for young people, students and middle-income households.