From 20 to 23 July, a delegation from the European Parliament’s Special Committee on the Housing Crisis in the European Union (HOUS) will visit Riga and Helsinki to learn about housing affordability problems and innovative solutions for easing the housing crisis.

The delegation will be led by Member of the European Parliament Inese Vaidere. During the four-day fact-finding visit, attention will focus on the social aspects of housing policy, approaches to construction and building renovation, striking a balance between the rights of homeowners and tenants, and evidence- and data-based policymaking.

The visit to Riga will begin on Monday, 20 July, when MEPs will meet with Riga City Council Chairman Viesturs Kleinbergs and representatives of the Ministry of Economics to discuss housing policy priorities at local and national level. The talks will also focus on European Recovery Fund financing for the housing construction programme and on wider regulation of the rental market.

 

On Tuesday, 21 July, the delegation will meet with Latvian organisations working in poverty reduction, homeowners’ rights, social policy and governance. MEPs will also visit the state development finance institution ALTUM and the Riga Energy Agency (REA), which is responsible for managing energy supply and energy efficiency in Riga.

On Wednesday, 22 July, the delegation will travel to Helsinki, where they will discuss national housing policy with representatives of Finland’s Ministry of the Environment. MEPs will visit the Kalasatama district to see examples of affordable housing and energy-efficient solutions. The visit will be accompanied by Helsinki’s Deputy Mayor for Urban Environment, Johanna Laisaari. The delegation will also meet with construction industry experts and company representatives to discuss sector trends and sustainable, affordable housing solutions. Meetings are also planned with civil society organisations working with people affected by housing inaccessibility, including homelessness, addiction and social isolation.

 

The visit will conclude on Thursday, 23 July, with the delegation meeting Finnish associations of homeowners and tenants to discuss how to strengthen Finland’s housing policy model amid changing conditions across Europe.

Delegation members:

* Inese Vaidere (EPP, Latvia) – head of delegation;
* Isabelle Le Callennec (EPP, France);
* Andreas Schieder (S&D, Austria);
* Marko Vešligaj (S&D, Croatia);
* Maria Ohisalo (Greens/EFA, Finland).