EU housing plan pushed by MEP Gabriela Firea calls for repurposing vacant buildings
MEP Gabriela Firea submitted proposals to the European Parliament urging EU funds to finance affordable homes in Romania, including converting unused public and industrial structures.
Gabriela Firea, a member of the European Parliament for the PSD, announced that she has forwarded a set of housing-related proposals to EU authorities amid discussions on the Affordable Housing Act. The suggestions include granting Romanian buyers and builders EU-funded credit lines for affordable housing, creating dedicated units for doctors, nurses and teachers, and turning vacant public or industrial premises into living spaces.
Additional items call for strengthening earthquake-prone blocks, adding lifts through the "Lift pentru viață" initiative, and expanding student housing, even for married students. Firea referenced her tenure as Bucharest’s mayor, when she launched social-housing projects and purchased service apartments for hospital staff, as well as family-oriented programs she oversaw as minister. She argued that while demand is high, individual states cannot meet the scale alone without flexible EU financing.
Why it matters
The proposal could unlock EU money to address Romania's severe housing shortage and improve living conditions for key public-service workers.
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