“In connection with refugees from Ukraine, it is necessary to support municipal housing funds and consider affordable housing – including start-up rental housing,” said Minister for Regional Development Ivan Bartoš (Pirates) yesterday. The Ministry of Regional Development (MRD) stated that Bartoš discussed the topic of current housing challenges yesterday at a ministerial conference organized by the French EU presidency. The Czech Republic will hold the EU presidency from 1 July 2022.
“The issue of housing is crucial and the consequences of the current situation in Ukraine make us feel so much. The problems of the energy crisis and inaccessible housing affect many European Union countries. We want to speed up the construction of even for all citizens of EU countries who provide incredible support to the victims of this unprovoked aggression,” said Bartoš.
According to the Minister, it is appropriate to consider affordable housing for a much wider group of people, which also includes starting rental housing. He also stood up for the strengthening of projects that lead to the support of the renewal of municipal housing funds, supportive financial instruments and various forms of owner-occupied housing.
“Residential buildings and buildings are responsible for around 40 percent of total energy consumption in the EU. The vast majority of buildings in the EU were built more than 20 years ago and do not meet current and future climate change challenges. great potential for reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions,” said Bartoš.
“Above all, it would make it easier to reduce our country’s energy dependence on fossil fuel supplies from Russia. And I’m not even talking about the biggest benefit, ie lower housing costs for the citizens of the Czech Republic,” Bartoš emphasized.
With regard to the coordination of the EU Presidency, Bartoš also met with Swedish Secretary of State Mattias Landgren and discussed the coordination of activities within the Presidency Trio. Sweden will hold the EU presidency from 1 January 2023. According to Bartoš, they discussed the possibilities of changes in the issue of public support to increase the availability of housing for wider groups of people.
Source: MRD and CTK
Photo: Piráti.cz
