Remarks by President António Costa following the Tripartite Social Summit

We have just concluded the Tripartite Social Summit. Social dialogue is at the heart of our model. It is the glue that binds our Union together. It is always a privilege to be able to exchange views with our social partners.

Tomorrow, at the European Council, we will discuss how best to tackle several of the challenges facing the European Union: our support for Ukraine, defence and security, competitiveness and, for the first time, housing.

Given the upheavals we face, we cannot take our peace, our stability or our prosperity for granted. The European Union’s values, as well as our social and redistributive model, are being put to the test.

It is our duty to strengthen the conditions for a more agile, more innovative and more sovereign European Union for the benefit of our workers, our companies and our society as a whole. Competitiveness and a social Europe are two mutually reinforcing objectives.

Investing in innovation, in the skill set of tomorrow, is an absolute necessity for improving our competitiveness in a fair and sustainable manner. That is the path to an open, regulated and sustainable economy in which technology helps with both empowerment and growth, and in which the fruits of that growth are shared fairly between everyone.

And that will contribute to an ever more inclusive Europe, creating quality jobs and ensuring everyone’s right to housing. According to the latest Eurobarometer, the lack of affordable housing is by far the most urgent issue for Europeans living in cities. More than half of them describe it as the greatest challenge they face.

Although it is primarily a matter for national, regional and local governments, it is essential that we European leaders discuss how the European Union can supplement its efforts and make a concrete impact in combating this crisis. That is why I ensured that, for the first time ever, the housing crisis was put on the agenda for tomorrow’s European Council. It is a commitment I made when I took up office.

Because European leaders have a duty to address the specific and urgent problems our citizens face on a daily basis. During my recent tour of European capitals, I was able to observe how accessibility and housing costs were absolute priorities for Europeans. From Lisbon to Copenhagen, from Dublin to Athens. The causes of this crisis are numerous and varied, and the solutions must be equally so.

A house is not just a shelter; it is the foundation of our lives. It determines our ability to participate actively in social, political and economic spheres. The lack of affordable, accessible and decent housing is a crisis with profound social, economic and political consequences. It is detrimental to our competitiveness, as it restricts workers’ mobility and hampers economic growth.

If we want to strengthen our social cohesion, preserve our democratic systems and improve our competitiveness, it is essential that we act on this crisis. Thank you for our exchange of views today. It is a valuable contribution to the discussions we will have tomorrow at the European Council and an important contribution for the European Commission as it prepares the first-ever European Affordable Housing Plan.

Thank you very much for your attention.