Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou is in Luxembourg today to chair a meeting of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) in its housing configuration, as part of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU. <\/p>\n
According to the Interior Ministry,\u00a0EU ministers responsible for housing are expected to adopt the first Council conclusions on housing, a step Nicosia sees as an important marker for European cooperation in a field that has become increasingly pressing across the bloc.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The conclusions focus on\u00a0the need for housing policies that respond to demographic,\u00a0social\u00a0and economic changes, while respecting the principle of subsidiarity and the responsibilities of member states.\u00a0<\/p>\n
They also call for\u00a0stronger cooperation between EU countries, particularly through the exchange of knowledge,\u00a0data\u00a0and best practices.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The meeting will also include\u00a0a policy debate on housing security for students and middle-income households, with ministers expected to discuss shared challenges and\u00a0possible policy\u00a0responses to improve access to quality,\u00a0safe\u00a0and affordable housing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The issue has been one of the social priorities of the Cyprus Presidency, which has sought to place\u00a0affordable housing higher on the EU agenda.\u00a0<\/p>\n