Responses across research, policy and practice
European Affordable Housing Plan
Following our “Hope for Housing?” dialogue in January 2026, IFHP and its partners invite you to join us in exploring how the European Affordable Housing Plan can be turned into concrete action across research, policy and practice. Do not miss your opportunity to get involved in this growing movement and knowledge exchange – save the date and join researchers, policymakers, and practitioners across Europe in a hybrid format.
— Join us in-person / Join us Online
How can the European affordable housing agenda be meaningfully connected to political and spatial planning systems across different governance levels? In January, International Federation for Housing and Planning (IFHP) and Vereniging Deltametropool (VDM) hosted a public dialogue titled “Hope for Housing? The European Affordable Housing Plan” at the Faculty of Architecture, TU Delft. Two main takeaways. First, that housing cannot be addressed through numbers alone: spatial planning, social infrastructure, livability and territorial coherence must be part of the conversation. Second, that financialization remains the structural obstacle that no technical or regulatory fix alone can resolve. You can read more details through this link.
This second event continues the dialogue and exchange around the newly released European Affordable Housing Plan, a European Commission initiative to support more affordable, decent and sustainable housing.
Carrying the first reactions forward and adding new responses, we convene researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to critically engage with the European Affordable Housing Plan, and its implications for housing provision in the Netherlands and other European settings.
We welcome housing researchers, civil servants, housing providers, NGOs, and early-career professionals who want to engage critically and constructively with this agenda.
Discussions will span regional planning approaches to housing supply, the role of knowledge-sharing infrastructure across cities and research networks, and how EU-level ambitions can be grounded in local and regional realities.
To be hosted on the 14 April by International Federation for Housing and Planning, with support from European Network for Housing Research, European Housing Policy Network, Ministry of Housing Netherlands, and Vereniging Deltametropool, the event will contain:
Reflections from earlier expert discussions;
Stakeholder roundtables with perspectives from the Netherlands and selected Member States;
A forward-looking session to define collective actions.
the aim
The aim is to initiate a sustained collaboration among European housing networks that can collectively provide structured, critical, and constructive input to the European Housing Task Force. The event is designed as an open, working dialogue: not just presentations, but space for questions, debate, and shared reflection. It is also a concrete opportunity for early-career researchers and young professionals to bring fresh perspectives into European housing policy and practice.
We are designing the program together for an interactive session between our European members and an international audience online alongside participants in the Netherlands. Whether you join us in the room or from anywhere in Europe, your voice is part of this discussion.
partners
The event is co‑organised with key European housing networks.
The European Network for Housing Research (ENHR) is an international network of researchers studying housing systems, policy and practice across Europe and beyond.
The European Housing Policy Network (EHPN), coordinated by the European Institute of Public Administration, brings together public officials and experts working on housing policy implementation and innovation in EU Member States.
International Federation for Housing and Planning (IFHP) is a global network of professionals working on better housing and urban futures across Europe and beyond.
This event is part of an ongoing collaboration between the International Federation of Housing and Planning (IFHP) and Deltametropolis Association (VDM), supported with a Memorandum of Understanding. VDM and IFHP share a common vision, focusing on urban and societal development with a high quality of life. This agenda brings together both the local context and global perspectives to tackle challenges with sustainable and socially equitable spatial development, planning and housing.
program
14:00 Welcome: Hope for Housing and the European Affordable Housing Plan
IFHP and VDM | ENHR | EHPN
14:15 Keynote presentation: Matthew Baldwin (European Commission)
Questions: The two core tensions are named clearly — housing as a systemic precondition for EU ambitions, and financialisation as a structural obstacle no technical fix alone can resolve.
14:30 Audience interaction with the panel
14:45 Panel 1: What works in housing? Lessons from across Europe
This panel discusses an array of different initiatives, projects ongoing at the European scale and learning from collaborative models of housing and the need for EU-level support. We also dialogue with the experts on how the citizens can be involved in such agendas — where and how do you connect people to practice and policy? Featuring: Darinka Czischke (ENHR), Olaf Grawert (House Europe!) and Sorcha Edwards (Housing Europe).
15:05 Audience interaction with the panel
15:20 Coffee Break
15:40 Panel 2: Where does housing meet planning? Voices from Europe’s regions
This panel takes stock of the spatial planning challenges from local and national scales across different parts of Europe. Panellists are asked how EU Member States, regions, and cities are responding; what opportunities exist in combining affordable housing funding with digital and other infrastructure investment; and what the implications are of balancing housing demand within regions for public, private, and civic stakeholders involved in housing delivery and governance. Featuring: Montserrat Pareja Eastaway (University of Barcelona), Katy Lock (TCPA, UK), Michaela Kauer (Director, Brussels Office of the City of Vienna) and Isabel van de Geer (Ministry VRO Netherlands.)
16:20 Audience interaction with the panel
16:40 Panel 3: Conclusion — How can research, policy and practice join hands?
Opening question: Can a European housing agenda be the key to liveable, competitive, and just cities? How can we simplify the agenda for local implementation? What is missing and how can we contribute? Featuring: Martijn Eskinasi (EHPN), Esther Agricola (IFHP) and Marja Elsinga (ENHR.)
17:00 End
join the discussion
Participation is free, but registration is required for both in-person and online attendance.
Join us in-person in The Hague / Join us Online
For any queries, email Alankrita Sarkar (a.sarkar@ifhp.org)
