The European Parliament's Special Committee on the Housing Crisis, jointly with the IMCO Committee, held a public hearing on 4 June 2026 on safe and sustainable construction materials and housing for students and young people, exposing a tension between industry calls for faster permitting and regulatory stability and environmental experts' advocacy for stronger circularity incentives.
Chair Irene Tinagli (S&D) opened the session, followed by Maria Grapini (S&D, Romania) for IMCO. European Commission Head of the Housing Task Force Stefan Moser outlined EU instruments including the Construction Products Regulation, the European Housing Plan, and a forthcoming simplification package in mid-2027.
First panel speakers included Christoph Dorn (Knauf Group), who stressed that energy costs drive material prices and called for stable legislative frameworks, faster permitting for raw materials, and material-neutral rules to support innovation. Piero Petrucco (ANCE, Italy) highlighted the need for faster authorization of new materials (e.g., additive manufacturing not covered by Eurocodes), support for off-site construction, and alignment of the Industrial Accelerator Act with the Construction Products Regulation. Linda Hildebrand (CUBE, RWTH Aachen) advocated for reuse of existing buildings, bio-based materials, and stronger incentives for circular construction.
In Q&A, Borja Giménez Larraz (EPP, Spain) asked which regulations unnecessarily increase costs; Moser confirmed a deep simplification review is underway. Petrucco cited slow Eurocode updates as a barrier to using new materials. Isabelle Le Callennec (EPP) asked about barriers to modular construction and recycling, and the status of EPBD transposition; Moser noted intensive work on national renovation plans.
The hearing underscored divergences between industry calls for faster permitting and regulatory stability, and environmental experts' push for stronger circularity incentives. Next steps include the Commission's simplification package and continued stakeholder input. Affected stakeholders include construction SMEs, material manufacturers, housing developers, and young people seeking affordable housing.