The European Commission has set up the Housing Advisory Board, an expert group which is tasked with providing concrete, independent policy recommendations for the Commission to consider in preparing the European Affordable Housing Plan which is expected in early 2026. In response to the Commission’s call for applications, over 200 qualified individuals applied, underscoring the significant interest and commitment towards tackling the challenges of affordable housing.
Having carefully assessed the applications, the Commission has selected 15 highly qualified members in their personal capacity, ensuring a balanced representation across different profiles and areas of expertise, along with a geographical and gender balance, of the different members who come from 15 different EU Member States.
The members of the Housing Advisory Board are:
- Eamon Ryan, Chair, Former Irish Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications and for Transport (2020-2025)
- Carlos Moedas, Vice Chair, Mayor of Lisbon, former European Commissioner
- Sarah Coupechoux, Head of the Europe Mission at the Fondation pour le logement des défavorisés
- Marja Elsinga, Professor on Housing Institutions & Governance at the Delft University of Technology
- Patrycja Haupt, Associate Professor at the Chair of Housing Environment, Faculty of Architecture at the Cracow University of Technology
- Ivana Katurić, Director of Urbanex, Assistant Professor at the University of Rijeka
- Vicky Kefalas, Member of the Investment Committee of Invest EU, Member of EIC Board, Member of EIT Governing Board
- Raphael Lehmann, Impact Investment Manager at Erste Social Finance Holding
- Ezio Micelli, Professor of Real Estate Economics at the Università Iuav di Venezia
- Teija Ojankoski, CEO of Y Foundation
- Jaime Pérez Luque, Director of the ESCP Institute of Real Estate Finance and Management
- Oliver Rapf, Executive Director of BPIE (Buildings Performance Institute Europe)
- Rikke Skovgaard Nielsen, Senior researcher at Department of the Built Environment, University of Aalborg
- Irina Zamfirescu, Academic lecturer at the Faculty of Sociology and Social Work of University of Bucharest
- Matthew Zerafa, Chief Executive Officer at the Malta Housing Authority
The Board held its first meeting on 30 June and is expected to meet again in September.
Meeting dates and more will be published in the Register of Commission expert groups and other similar entities.
