Regions, Cities, Municipalities and the Local Economy at the Heart of Europe’s Housing Debate

Europe’s housing debate has entered a decisive phase. With the EU Short-Term Rental Regulation applicable since 20 May 2026 and the forthcoming Affordable Housing Act shaping the next political agenda, the key question is what role the European Union can and should play where housing markets, regional responsibilities and economic conditions differ widely across Europe.

Short-term rentals illustrate this complexity. In some cities and tourism-intensive regions, they are discussed in relation to housing availability, infrastructure capacity and affordability. In others, they are linked to tourism, family-owned accommodation, local services, seasonal income, entrepreneurship and the wider visitor economy. The same policy issue can therefore raise different questions depending on local housing supply, tourism intensity, demographic trends and regional economic structures.

The workshop will discuss how the new EU rules can support evidence-based local and regional policymaking, and how short-term rentals can contribute to strengthening the local economies. It will also address questions around resilient housing markets, competitiveness, proportionate regulation, financing conditions, and practical support for buying, renovating and financing homes.

A central part of the discussion will be where the EU can add value — for example through transparency, comparable data, regulatory clarity, access to finance, investment support, guidance for homebuyers and the exchange of best practices — and where EU-level action may reach its limits because housing pressures, market structures and economic effects are highly local. This raises the broader question of whether further EU intervention would provide practical added value, or whether local, regional and national approaches are better placed to address specific housing-market realities. This also connects to the EU’s wider “Right to Stay” agenda: housing affordability is one of the practical conditions that can influence whether people are able to remain in the communities they call home.

The aim is a frank and practical exchange between local and regional representatives, Members of the European Parliament, host associations, platforms, business representatives and housing-market stakeholders. At its core, the event asks how Europe can address housing challenges in a way that is place-based, proportionate, economically realistic and financially sustainable — while also examining where European coordination can support better outcomes and where decision-making may need to remain closer to the cities, municipalities, regions, residents, workers, entrepreneurs and local businesses that will experience, invest in and implement the outcomes on the ground.