EU's New Housing Commissioner Warns of 'Huge Wake-up Call' Needed to Address Continent-Wide Housing Crisis
A stark warning from the European Union's newly appointed housing commissioner, Dan Jorgensen: Europe needs a significant shake-up in tackling its entrenched housing crisis. If left unchecked, the issue poses serious risks to democracy and social stability.
"It's not just about building more homes," says Jorgensen, a Danish Social Democrat who oversees both energy and housing portfolios for the EU. "If people can't afford a roof over their heads, they'll turn against democracy." This is precisely what happened in many European countries where housing affordability has become an insurmountable challenge.
Jorgensen's brief also extends to climate change, but his message is clear: Europe must act decisively on energy and housing to avoid becoming vulnerable to external pressures. The EU aims to cut its reliance on Russian liquefied natural gas by the end of 2027, a goal that many analysts question given current trends.
"We've made significant progress in reducing our consumption," Jorgensen notes. "However, we can't allow ourselves to be weaponized by Putin's energy policies." The commission is now working to implement stricter regulations on state aid and short-term rentals, which have become major problems in cities across Europe.
One of the EU's biggest challenges is France, where tensions over Greenland have shown a stark contrast between European unity and national interests. Jorgensen says that while some countries are resistant to change, the EU must stand firm and prioritize its core values.
"We appreciate our partners' concerns about sovereignty," he notes. "But we can't let that undermine our fundamental commitment to democracy and human rights." When it comes to energy policy, there's no room for ambiguity: Europe will not be swayed by external pressures or national opposition.
For Jorgensen and the EU, the stakes are high. The housing crisis poses a direct threat to social stability, while energy insecurity could cripple European economies. As the bloc navigates these complex challenges, it remains to be seen whether its newfound resolve will prove sufficient to address the pressing issues of housing and climate change.
A stark warning from the European Union's newly appointed housing commissioner, Dan Jorgensen: Europe needs a significant shake-up in tackling its entrenched housing crisis. If left unchecked, the issue poses serious risks to democracy and social stability.
"It's not just about building more homes," says Jorgensen, a Danish Social Democrat who oversees both energy and housing portfolios for the EU. "If people can't afford a roof over their heads, they'll turn against democracy." This is precisely what happened in many European countries where housing affordability has become an insurmountable challenge.
Jorgensen's brief also extends to climate change, but his message is clear: Europe must act decisively on energy and housing to avoid becoming vulnerable to external pressures. The EU aims to cut its reliance on Russian liquefied natural gas by the end of 2027, a goal that many analysts question given current trends.
"We've made significant progress in reducing our consumption," Jorgensen notes. "However, we can't allow ourselves to be weaponized by Putin's energy policies." The commission is now working to implement stricter regulations on state aid and short-term rentals, which have become major problems in cities across Europe.
One of the EU's biggest challenges is France, where tensions over Greenland have shown a stark contrast between European unity and national interests. Jorgensen says that while some countries are resistant to change, the EU must stand firm and prioritize its core values.
"We appreciate our partners' concerns about sovereignty," he notes. "But we can't let that undermine our fundamental commitment to democracy and human rights." When it comes to energy policy, there's no room for ambiguity: Europe will not be swayed by external pressures or national opposition.
For Jorgensen and the EU, the stakes are high. The housing crisis poses a direct threat to social stability, while energy insecurity could cripple European economies. As the bloc navigates these complex challenges, it remains to be seen whether its newfound resolve will prove sufficient to address the pressing issues of housing and climate change.
EU's housing commissioner Dan Jorgensen is warning that Europe needs a huge wake-up call to tackle its housing crisis 
. He says that if people can't afford a roof over their heads, they'll turn against democracy 
. This makes sense, because if we can't even get the basics right like housing, how are we supposed to function as a society? 
The EU needs to act fast and implement stricter regulations on state aid and short-term rentals 
. It's not just about building more homes, it's about making sure that everyone has access to affordable housing 
.
. It's not just about throwing more money at the problem or building more houses, we need to rethink the whole system. Climate change and energy security are huge concerns too - can't have one without the other 
. France is a tough nut to crack with those Greenland tensions but I think Jorgensen has a point - our values should be stronger than national interests 
. We've got to stand firm on democracy and human rights, even if it means taking some hard decisions 
. Wish the EU would just get its act together already 
.
u gotta understand, the EU's housing crisis is super serious 
if ppl cant afford homes, they get all messed up & protest stuff 
it's not just about buildin more homes tho, it's about makin sure ppl got access 2 affordable roofs over their heads 
and btw, climate change is still a BIG deal 
Putin's energy policies are all like "hey, u gotta do what i say" 
Dan Jorgensen seems like a cool dude tho 
ASAP 
. Like, Europe needs to get its act together on housing ASAP, or else it'll be chaos 
. And don't even get me started on climate change - we need to take action NOW 
...
And what about France's concerns over Greenland? Can't we just have a nuanced conversation about sovereignty and democracy instead of painting it as a simple "we're right, you're wrong" situation? 
We're also seeing a huge rise in homelessness, with over 2 million Europeans living on the streets or at risk of becoming homeless. 
What's even more alarming is that climate change is making housing affordability worse - rising temperatures are increasing construction costs and limiting the availability of materials! 
Meanwhile, Ireland is facing a housing crisis that's causing people to move abroad in search of cheaper living costs! 
The EU needs to act fast to address this crisis before it's too late. 
You can't put a price on being able to call a roof over your head home. 
The EU needs to step up and make some real changes - no more excuses, no more delays. We need leaders who can stand firm on our core values and not let external pressures push us around. 
what about rent control? or policies to help first time buyers get on the ladder? 
We can't just let our national interests override our commitment to democracy and human rights. That's not what we're all about, guys.