The Structural Funds 2007-2013:
a push for social housing

Housing is eligible to the ERDF in the EU 12 ("New" Member States). It means that the following activities can be co-financed by the EU : 

(a) renovation of the common parts of multi-family residential buildings, asfollows:

(i) refurbishment of the following main structural parts of the building: roof,
façade, windows and doors on the façade, staircase, inside and outside corridors,
entrances and their exteriors, elevator;
(ii) technical installations of the building;
(iii) energy-efficiency actions.

(b) delivery of modern social housing of good quality through renovation and
change of use of existing buildings owned by public authorities or non-profit
operators.

To get further information, look at the implementing regulation here

For the EU-15 ("Old" Member State), housing remains not eligible per se to ERDF  (not possible to renovate or build social housing), although it is so far possible to get EU money for soft measures (such as studies) in the field of energy and for integrated urban development plans covering aspects of housing estates such as common spaces. 

For all Member States, it is possible to use European Social Funds (ESF) for training and capacity-building in the field of housing.

Specific attention should be given to the opportunities in the field of territorial (mainly interregional) cooperation, where housing is mentioned among the fields covered by the programmes (see below)

NEWS

* URBACT II: cities will work on housing issues here

* Interregional cooperation : MED (Mediterranean cooperation programme) first call for proposals open (deadline 2 may)  

* Interregional cooperation: CENTRAL EUROPE first call for proposal open (deadline 14 April) 

* News article: " Door still open for energy efficiency in housing in EU-15" read more here 

* First call for proposals for INTERREG IVC

* URBACT II   First Call for Proposal (closed)

* Commission Européenne : un guide sur la dimension urbaine dans les politiques de l'UE 

* CECODHAS: A guide for housing projects within the EU Cohesion Policy 2007-2013
> Download in EN or FR
> Complement : Briefing note on European Social Fund and Interregional Cooperation EN

* Latest news on JESSICA (financial instrument for integrated urban development) : see presentation here

POSITION PAPERS

CECODHAS contribution to the consultation on the future of Cohesion Policy (January 2008) > EN  

CECODHAS response to the Green Paper on Adaptation to Climate Change (November 2007) > EN

CECODHAS position on the current state of development of the JESSICA initiative > EN 

CECODHAS position on the draft Leipzig Charter on Sustainable European Cities (March 2007)       > DE > EN

CALLS FOR PARTNERS

*INTERREG IV B Project "Urb.Energy"

For further information on the project click here

The 1st Call for Proposals is expected to be launched the very early beginning of 2008. That also means, that only with the launch of the 1st Open Call for Proposal we know the exact requirements of the application, forms etc.

Interested organisations are urged to contact the following person :

Petra Schwarz   
German Association for Housing,                                                         
Urban and Spatial Development (DV e.V)                                              

Tel.: +49 – 30 – 206132-557                                                                
Fax: +49 – 30 – 206132-50                                                                  
Email: This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

LINKS to Key Documents

The Strucural Funds Regulations 2007-2013http://www.ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docoffic/official/regulation/newregl0713_en.htm

Documents de travail méthodologiques pour les Fonds Structurels 2007-2013 (Commission européenne) http://www.ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docoffic/working/sf2000_fr.htm

Commission Européenne : un guide sur la dimension urbaine dans les politiques de l'UE 

EAPN Manual on the management of the European Union Structural Funds available in different languages on http://www.eapn.org/code/en/publ_detail.asp?pk_id_content=1748

Housing “focal points” for the preparation of the annual meeting of the Ministers in charge of housing in the European Union
http://mrw.wallonie.be/dgatlp/logement/logement_euro/Pages/Focalpoint/FocalPointw.htm

Strengths and weaknesses of housing renovation projects in 2000-2006
Caroline Field , Project manager,Moat,NHF,UK,“Affordable Sustainable Housing”
Luigina Carere , ATC Torino,URBAN and housing, Torino, Italy
Laurent Ghekière, Director of the Delegation of USH to the EU, Social housing projects in France

Measures eligible for co-financing through the EU Structural Funds. The integrated approach of urban development in the EU-10 and in the EU-15
Presentation of the opportunities by Sylvie Harburger, DG Regional Policy, European Commission
Discussion with Jan Olbrycht, MEP (Poland); Ivan Tosics, MRI, (Hungary);
Krzysztof Baczynski, Coordinator of the Hous-es Network, Poland, URBACT

Financial engineering mechanisms for urban and housing projects: Advantages for the social housing sector and conditions for an efficient use.
Presentation by Georges Kolivas, DG Regional Policy, European Commission of JESSICA, JASPERS and JEREMIE
Mateu Turro, EIB and Leon Herrera, CEB: International Financial Institutions and social housing
Pierre-Marie Debreuille, DEXIA a financial partner for integrated urban development

Optimal conditions for successful renovation projects
Introductory report by Anna Pozzo,
Discussion with experts: F.Deplace, Delphis, France and operators: Erik Beijer AEDES, Netherlands