Panel speakers
Pedro Ballesteros-Torres, from the European Commission DG TREN presented EU initiatives than can help a sustainable urban agenda, and stressed his willingness to co-operate with CECODHAS members to try to identify problems and to work together on possible solutions.

Pere Macias Arau, President of the Housing Committee of the Spanish Parliament gave an inspiring presentation on the housing contribution to sustainable development in cities. He presented some of his own proposals for a ‘new urban culture’, aimed at reducing land consumption and speculation, decreasing high transport costs, supporting social housing providers through new financing for rental dwellings, providing fiscal incentive for modernisation and refurbishment, and promoting a rational use of renewable energies.
 
Thierry Repentin, President of USH, presented evidence supporting social hosuing providers’ commitment towards emissions reduction and energy efficiency. On average, social housing in France already consumes 30% less energy than the rest of the housing market, and strong commitments have been taken towards a major stock renovation. He stressed that, while there are a number of tools and initiatives already in place at the Euroepan level which can help in this task (such as ERDF funding, FP7, Energy certificates), what is needed is also coordination with all the actors involved (in particular partnership with local authorities), and energy efficiency obligations in the liberalisation of energy markets

Javier Eugenio Guallart, Spanish Secretary General for Housing, highlighted how investment in social housing is one which is easily repaid through taxes generated by the new economic activities and lower unemployment benefits. Sustainable construction creates employment, improves quality of life, provides long-term infrastructure to the community and fosters economic development of a given area. ‘There is no reason why not to invest in social housing, only positive externalities can be generated’ he said.

Finally, Christos Doulekeridis, Secretary of State in charge of Housing in the Brussels Region, reminded the audience of the necessity to come back to basic needs: housing is a right in most of EU countries consitutions, it should be implemented. It is not acceptable for him that still some part of the EU population does not have access to a place to live. He announced that the Belgium Presidency will therefore organise a conference to share practices in organising effiecient policy answer and good structures to provide more affordable homes. He also insisted on the positive impact on environment the housing could have if better planned applying a real holitic approach.
 
Building on the debate’s main conclusions , CECODHAS Housing Europe finalised its contribution to the EU 2020 Strategy consultation, which you can read HERE

Exhibition 'Social housing: history of a necessity'
The exhibition, inaugurated on the same day by the Spanish housing ministry Beatriz Corredor together with AVS President Francesc Villanueva, illustrates the changing concept of housing and thus offers an ideal historical perspective to debate on the future contribution of social housing towards the society and the inhabitants.
>For further information and to see some videos and pictures click HERE

Morning session
In the morning CECODHAS – HOUSING EUROPE members were invited to participate to the internal seminar ‘The 2020 EU strategy: setting the right priorities?’
> CECODHAS members can access the presentations from the morning meeting HERE (you will need password and username to log in)