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BackFor some time, social housing has also become the focus of a debate on competition at European level. Vienna’s reaction was a Resolution for Social Housing in Europe. This Monday, on International Tenants' Day, tribute was paid to Vienna within the scope of a conference. Apart from that, an exhibition on Public Housing in Vienna was opened in the European Parliament.
The European Commission has already more than once criticised the socio-political regulations of individual Member States. The Netherlands and Sweden have already seen far reaching changes. Core points of the complaint were: decrease of social housing stock, restriction of access to council flats to socially disadvantaged groups as well as the restriction of promotion of social housing by territorial authorities.
As a result, the European Parliament adopted an initiative report on social housing in the European Union, in which the Parliament ascertained among other that the demand for affordable housing space is constantly on the increase. Nevertheless, the discussion concerning the question, which demographic groups should have access to council flats went on and on. This was reason for Vienna’s Mayor Michael Häupl (SPÖ) to launch a resolution for social housing, as this has a long tradition, in particular in Austria. In the meantime, 30 mayors from 30 large European cities, such as Berlin, Copenhagen or Zagreb, have given their signature.
Best practice Vienna
On occasion of the International Tenants’ Day on 6.10., the global tenant association “International Union of Tenants” (IUT) hosted a conference in Brussels, which among other dealt with the empowerment of tenants and a responsible housing policy. Apart from that, the first Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Charta on “Responsible Housing” was adopted within the framework of the event at European level and the “European Responsible Housing Awards” awarded. Tribute was paid to Vienna’s special position on several occasions. On the one hand, reference was made repeatedly to the “Mayor Resolution”, whilst the Vienna council house administration was among the five nominees in the “good governance” sector. The Viennese executive city councillor for housing, Michael Ludwig (SPÖ) commented that the City was proud of its municipal housing and had never contemplated selling it. He pointed out that all cities, which had jumped on the neoliberalism bandwagon and privatised their housing stock, would now bitterly regret it.
This week, public housing in Vienna will also be honoured by the European Parliament, which hosts an exhibition on public housing in Vienna "Public Housing in Vienna 1920 -2020".
More information:
Social housing and the EU competition law (German only)
As a result, the European Parliament adopted an initiative report on social housing in the European Union, in which the Parliament ascertained among other that the demand for affordable housing space is constantly on the increase. Nevertheless, the discussion concerning the question, which demographic groups should have access to council flats went on and on. This was reason for Vienna’s Mayor Michael Häupl (SPÖ) to launch a resolution for social housing, as this has a long tradition, in particular in Austria. In the meantime, 30 mayors from 30 large European cities, such as Berlin, Copenhagen or Zagreb, have given their signature.
Best practice Vienna
On occasion of the International Tenants’ Day on 6.10., the global tenant association “International Union of Tenants” (IUT) hosted a conference in Brussels, which among other dealt with the empowerment of tenants and a responsible housing policy. Apart from that, the first Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Charta on “Responsible Housing” was adopted within the framework of the event at European level and the “European Responsible Housing Awards” awarded. Tribute was paid to Vienna’s special position on several occasions. On the one hand, reference was made repeatedly to the “Mayor Resolution”, whilst the Vienna council house administration was among the five nominees in the “good governance” sector. The Viennese executive city councillor for housing, Michael Ludwig (SPÖ) commented that the City was proud of its municipal housing and had never contemplated selling it. He pointed out that all cities, which had jumped on the neoliberalism bandwagon and privatised their housing stock, would now bitterly regret it.
This week, public housing in Vienna will also be honoured by the European Parliament, which hosts an exhibition on public housing in Vienna "Public Housing in Vienna 1920 -2020".
More information:
Social housing and the EU competition law (German only)