Mixed signals from the European Commission: Undermining housing affordability and the energy transition in central and eastern Europe

Briefing    |    29 May 2026

This briefing highlights the potential impacts of two recent EU policy developments that could significantly affect the energy transformation within the building sector in central and eastern Europe: the European Affordable Housing Plan and the outcomes of the European Commission’s mid-term review of EU cohesion policy funds. The publication also presents several successful examples from central and eastern Europe where energy efficiency is driving building renovations, effectively mitigating the impacts of the current housing crisis.

The examples shared in this briefing aim to empower and encourage a wide range of stakeholders, including members of cohesion policy funds monitoring committees, public administrations, citizens, civil society organisations, and governmental or non-governmental organisations involved in implementing forthcoming calls or amended operational programmes by helping them make informed, strategic decisions when designing funding calls, eligibility rules and selection criteria that integrate housing solutions with energy efficiency.