The European Commission has officially launched the European Housing Alliance, a new platform designed to strengthen cooperation among Member States, regions, cities, housing stakeholders and EU institutions in response to the growing housing challenges affecting millions of Europeans. The initiative forms part of the European Affordable Housing Plan and aims to facilitate knowledge-sharing, mutual learning and the exchange of best practices to support access to affordable and sustainable housing across the European Union. 

The Alliance represents a significant step towards a more coordinated European approach to housing, bringing together policymakers, local authorities, experts, industry representatives and civil society organisations. By connecting different levels of governance and fostering collaboration, the initiative seeks to transform shared knowledge into practical solutions capable of addressing housing affordability, quality and sustainability challenges. 

This development is particularly relevant to the objectives of the SHAKE-UP project. As Europe works to ensure that housing is not only affordable but also energy-efficient, resilient and future-proof, the renovation and decarbonisation of the building stock become increasingly important. Buildings play a central role in Europe's climate and energy ambitions, while energy costs remain a significant component of household expenditure. Improving the energy performance of residential buildings can therefore contribute simultaneously to reducing emissions, lowering energy bills and enhancing living conditions. 

The European Housing Alliance recognises that housing challenges cannot be addressed through isolated actions. Instead, coordinated efforts are needed across policy, financing, construction, energy and social sectors. This holistic approach aligns closely with SHAKE-UP's vision of supporting the transformation of Europe's built environment through innovative solutions that improve building performance and contribute to a more sustainable and inclusive energy transition. 

According to the European Commission, the Alliance will operate as an open and flexible platform based on four key principles: subsidiarity and multi-level governance, inclusive participation, adaptability, and the combination of political leadership with technical expertise. It will support collaboration between stakeholders while ensuring that policy discussions remain closely connected to realities on the ground. 

Alongside the Alliance, the Commission is also developing a Pan-European Investment Platform for Housing, intended to improve coordination among existing European, national and local financing instruments. By strengthening project pipelines and facilitating investment, the initiative aims to support the delivery of affordable and sustainable housing solutions at scale. 

The Platform: More Details 

The European Housing Alliance has been designed as a collaborative platform built around four key principles that aim to ensure effective cooperation and tangible outcomes. First, it is guided by subsidiarity and multi-level governance, recognising that housing policies are primarily implemented at local, regional and national levels while benefiting from European coordination and support. Second, the Alliance promotes inclusive participation, bringing together a broad range of stakeholders, including public authorities, housing providers, financial institutions, industry representatives, researchers and civil society organisations. 

A third principle is adaptability and responsiveness, allowing the platform to evolve in line with emerging housing challenges, policy developments and stakeholder needs. Finally, the Alliance combines political leadership with technical expertise, creating a space where strategic decision-makers can work alongside practitioners and experts to identify practical solutions and accelerate implementation. Together, these principles are intended to foster knowledge exchange, strengthen cooperation across sectors and support the development of innovative approaches to affordable, sustainable and resilient housing throughout Europe.  

For projects such as SHAKE-UP, these developments highlight the growing recognition at European level that housing affordability, energy efficiency and climate resilience are deeply interconnected. Achieving the objectives of the European Green Deal and the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) will require collaboration across sectors and governance levels, as well as the deployment of innovative renovation and energy solutions capable of delivering benefits for both citizens and communities. 

Stakeholders interested in learning more about the initiative or joining the Alliance can find further information on the European Commission's dedicated Housing Alliance webpage. 

Read the European Commission announcement.

Learn more about the European Housing Alliance.