Greek MEP Elena Kountoura (The Left) has called on the European Commission to tailor its forthcoming affordable housing plan to the specific needs of island communities, warning that structural constraints, tourism-driven short-term rentals, and high construction costs are making housing unaffordable for residents, public sector workers, and seasonal workers. In a written parliamentary question submitted on 9 June 2026, Kountoura asks whether the Commission will propose a 'Statute of the EU Islands' and an 'Islands Pact' to recognise insularity as a differential feature, and whether it will support a dedicated funding line in the next multiannual financial framework for social and affordable housing on islands under tourism pressure.
The question cites Commission data showing a 56% increase in building costs between 2010 and 2024, and an OECD report indicating that housing costs on some islands can be 75% to 130% higher than on the mainland. Kountoura also points to the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, which sets ambitious renovation targets but, she argues, does not adequately account for the higher costs of construction and renovation on islands, risking a slowdown in renovations and exacerbating housing poverty.
Kountoura's question is a concrete ask for policy recognition and financial instruments, rather than a mere declaration. It builds on the European Parliament's February 2026 report on the housing crisis, which called for an Islands Pact and a statute for EU islands. The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks; its answer will signal whether it intends to integrate island-specific measures into its broader housing strategy and the upcoming European strategy for islands.