The European Parliament's Employment and Social Affairs Committee (EMPL) on 16 July 2026 debated the Commission proposal for a Council Recommendation on fighting housing exclusion, broadly endorsing its preventive and housing-led approach but diverging sharply on legal form and financing. MEPs from the centre-left and left criticised the non-binding nature of the instrument and called for dedicated EU funds, while the centre-right stressed using existing MFF resources.
Gabriele Bischoff (S&D) and Maria Ohisalo (Greens/EFA) led the push for binding targets, arguing that a recommendation without enforcement would fail to address the scale of the crisis. Leila Chaibi (The Left) regretted the non-binding status and called for a European housing-first programme with its own budget. Isabelle Le Callennec (EPP) countered that financing should come from the existing Multiannual Financial Framework, not new dedicated funds. On evictions, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (S&D) and Konstantinos Arvanitis (The Left) pressed for stronger prevention measures, while Commission official Jiri Svarc (DG EMPL.D.1) argued that the term 'housing exclusion' already prioritises prevention. Housing first was widely supported, though Ohisalo and Chaibi wanted it more central in the text. Ohisalo and Ciaran Mullooly (Renew) called for common benchmarks and better data; Svarc pointed to ongoing OECD cooperation and a homelessness count project. Jana Toom (Renew) and Marc Angel (S&D) raised concerns about criminalisation and anti-discrimination gaps; Svarc referred to broader Commission strategies. The proposal now moves to Council under the Irish Presidency, with EMPL and the housing committee expected to cooperate on follow-up.