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Europaudvalget 2000-01
EUU Alm.del Bilag 204
Offentligt

Modtaget via elektronisk post. Der tages forbehold for evt. fejl

Europaudvalget

(Alm. del - bilag 204)

rådsmødereferater

(Offentligt)

_____________________________________________

BOU, Alm. del - bilag 39 (Løbenr. 2791)

Medlemmerne af Folketingets Europaudvalg

og deres stedfortrædere

Bilag

Journalnummer

400.C.2-0

Kontor

EU-sekr.

7. november 2000

Til underretning for Folketingets Europaudvalg vedlægges By- og Boligministeriets redegørelse for uformelt

ministermøde (boligministre) den 25.-26. september 2000.

FINAL COMMUNIQUÉ

12th Informal Meeting of European Union Housing Ministers

Paris, 25- 26 September 2000

"Public policies concerning access to housing"

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• The 12th annual meeting of European Union Housing Ministers, which convened in Paris from 25 to 26

September 2000, was mainly devoted to "public policies concerning access to housing".

1. The Ministers wished to state that although housing policy falls strictly under the competence of the

Member States, there needs to be a debate on the problems at hand, followed by an exchange of

information as to the solutions brought to these problems. They were pleased to note that the annual

meeting of the Housing Ministers offered the opportunity for such discussions.

• Specific data collected for this meeting on the housing situation in European countries, help give an

overall vision of the development of public policies and the housing markets in each country, and which

topical subjects have an influence on these policies.

4. The Ministers underlined the fact that the division of responsibilities between the public sector and

the private sector varies from one country to another depending on the goals of the housing policy,

the institutional context, the type of structures and who is involved. However, the public sector's

contribution in terms of creating a legislative framework, controlling economic instruments and

correcting imperfections in the market is still very necessary. It helps implement the different types of

m easures so vital to allowing population groups, whose problems cannot be solved by the market

alone, to have access to proper and financially affordable housing and services.

1. Ministers were given a briefing on the papers presented by various experts last spring in Lisbon during the

International Forum organised by Portugal. They also heard the position of NGOs on access to housing. On

this point, they underlined the essential role played by public policies mostly in terms of developing housing

supply, and more particularly making housing (social or private) accessible to low income households,

providing assistance (financial, fiscal, etc.) to household s incapable of covering housing expenses much

higher than their resources, and more specifically, helping certain categories of households in difficulty to

have access to housing or stay in their present dwelling.

• They noted that the local housing situation in most countries is quite contrasted: weakened markets in

areas of economic and demographic decline, and tight markets often in high-growth areas. Whereas public

policies must diversify their action in order to boost the construction of dwellings where needed and allow

for the regeneration of problem areas, these policies must be included within the framework of sustainable

development and urban regeneration . The Ministers also noted the need to develop already-existing urban

areas, rather than open up new spaces for development.

7) The Ministers noted the growing problem of segregation in larger European cities, where more

urban areas are divided into well functioning areas and deprived areas. Urban policies, where the city

is seen as a whole and focus is put on both the problems and potentials of an area, are important tools

in the fight against and prevention of urban segregation because they promote a social mix.

The Ministers expressed strong support for the Lisbon European Council decisions to promote social Inclusion: « The

European Council invites the Council and the Commission to : mainstream the promotion of social inclusion in Member

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States' employment, education and training, health and housing policies, this being complemented at Community level

by action under the Structural Funds within the present budgetary framework. »

Housing is one of the key factors in the fight against social exclusion. The Ministers emphasised that access to adequate

and affordable housing for all should be one of the priorities in the social inclusion policies of the Member States.

8) The Ministers devoted part of their work to the preparation of the Special Session of the General Assembly of the

United Nations, "Istanbul + 5", which will be held in New York in 2001. The European Union, which took an active part

during the Habitat II meeting in Istanbul, must continue to make its voice heard, and thus take part in the construction of

a process that will improve the situation of human settlements around the world. It is important that the "Istanbul + 5"

develo pment process focus on following-up and evaluating the Habitat agenda, as well as preserving and furthering the

important advances made in Istanbul in 1996. The Special Session should be devoted notably to a constructive exchange

of ideas and good practices through thematic presentations, and the implementation of the Habitat agenda by a wide

range of Habitat partners, including representatives of local governments and NGOs.

9) The Ministers welcomed the edition of "Housing Statistics in the European Union 2000" presented by the Netherlands

during the meeting; it is now also available on the Internet (www.euhousing.org).

They expressed their appreciation of Finland's willingness to take the lead in preparing the next edition of "Housing

Statistics in the European Union" which will be published in the course of 2001.

The Ministers expressed their wish to continue the publication of annual national progress reports on housing

developments in the EU Member States.

10) The Ministers identified important subjects of common interest. The objective of this proposal is to stimulate

targeted exchange of information and experience including relevant research between the Member States. The Ministers

wished to see a representative from the European Commission participating at the next meetings in order to allow a

debate on the interaction between EU policies and national housing policies. Consequently, the Ministers asked that the

European Commission, in the same way as the Member States, designate again a "focal point" for housing.

11) Other areas of common interest have been identified :

a. Strengthening the position of housing consumers in the planning process in a broad sense (from urban planning

development of projects to the construction of dwellings and effective quality control of the building process).

b. Achieving a balance in the housing market. (Rising house prices is a current phenomenon in many countries

experiencing strong economic growth. It is unclear what the macro-economic effects will be).

c. The position of social (institutional) landlords (housing associations, etc.).

d. The relationship between the social and the physical development of weak urban areas. Instruments aimed at

stabilising these urban areas?

e. Housing and health and environment:

◦ The demands of an ageing/greying population require new and adapted forms of housing combined with health

care and services.

◦ Issues related to housing and the disabled.

◦ Sustainable buildings. Minimise the use of raw materials, resources and the buildings' influence on the

environment during their life cycle.

◦ The influence that building quality has on health.

(f) possibilities of housing for the homeless

(g) Issues related to the habitat of nomadic people.

(h) Financial systems: the positive and negative side effects that subsidies, taxes, and rent control have on the

balance of the housing market.

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(i) Access to housing for all: guarantees provided to different players (tenant, lessor, buyer, lending institution);

specific provisions supporting certain categories of households; mediation and assistance arrangements, etc.

(j) Better knowledge of the housing vacancy phenomenon represents a challenge.

Different ways of managing collective ownership of housing buildings.

12) The Ministers congratulated the French Presidency on the quality of this meeting's preparation.

At the invitation of Belgium, which will take over the Presidency of the European Union during the second half

of 2001, the Ministers agreed that the next annual meeting of the Housing Ministers would take place in

Brussels, on 25-28 September 2001.

This meeting, as an extension of the Paris meeting, will look further into the topic of access to housing.

Commfr5 (25/09/00)