European Commission's Strategy for Accessible and Inclusive Housing 2021-2030

The European Commission has launched a comprehensive strategy for accessible and inclusive housing, recognizing that it is essential for decent living for persons with disabilities. The strategy involves investing EUR 7.5 billion in the Cohesion policy funds for the energy efficiency of housing stock and social housing, while ensuring accessibility for persons with disabilities. Furthermore, the Commission has proposed a regulation to enable Member States to increase their amounts in housing under the 2021-2027 Cohesion policy Funds.

Key Takeaways:

• The European Commission's Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030 recognizes the importance of accessible and inclusive housing for persons with disabilities.
• The Cohesion policy funds are investing EUR 7.5 billion in 2021-2027 in the energy efficiency of housing stock and social housing, ensuring accessibility for persons with disabilities.
• The Commission has proposed a regulation to enable Member States to increase their amounts in housing under the 2021-2027 Cohesion policy Funds.
• The Commission will put forward a European Affordable Housing Plan in 2026, which will carefully assess the aspects raised by the Honourable Member.
• The Commission has recommended that Member States undertake efforts to avoid the creation of accessibility barriers for persons with disabilities and where possible, to remove existing accessibility barriers when buildings undergo major renovations.
• European accessibility standards, such as European Standard EN 17210 on the accessibility and usability of the built environment, and European Standard EN 17161:2019 on a Design for All approach, are in place to support the implementation of accessible and inclusive housing.

Statistics:

• EUR 7.5 billion is being invested in the Cohesion policy funds for the energy efficiency of housing stock and social housing, while ensuring accessibility for persons with disabilities.
• 2021-2027 is the timeframe for the Cohesion policy funds' investment in the energy efficiency of housing stock and social housing.

Sources:

• [1] Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030 (https://op.europa.eu/publication-detail/-/publication/3e1e2228-7c97-11eb-9ac9-01aa75ed71a1)
• [2] Commission Notice -- Guidance on independent living and inclusion in the community of persons with disabilities in the context of EU funding (C/2024/7897, OJ C, C/2024/7188, 29.11.2024; https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/C/2024/7188/oj/eng)
• [3] Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2021 laying down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund Plus, the Cohesion Fund, the Just Transition Fund and the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund and financial rules for those and for the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, the Internal Security Fund and the Instrument for Financial Support for Border Management and Visa Policy (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=legissum:4536652)
• [4] Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulations (EU) 2021/1058 and (EU) 2021/1056 as regards specific measures to address strategic challenges in the context of the mid-term review (https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/communication/mid-term-review-2025/regulation-proposal-mid-term-review-2025_en.pdf)
• [5] EU accessibility standards, such as European Standard EN 17210 on the accessibility and usability of the built environment, and European Standard EN 17161:2019 on a Design for All approach (https://accessible-eu-centre.ec.europa.eu/content-corner/digital-library/en-172102021-accessibility-and-usability-built-environment-functional-requirements_en and https://accessible-eu-centre.ec.europa.eu/content-corner/digital-library/en-171612019-design-all-accessibility-following-design-all-approach-products-goods-and-services_en)