Join Goal
HouseEurope!
A citizens' initiative for an EU-legislation that boosts the renovation of existing buildings and stops their demolition driven by speculation.
Today, buildings are treated as investments rather than places for people to live. Due to speculation, millions of square meters sit empty and ruin. From abandoned industrial and office spaces to unused family and second homes. This creates social and environmental problems, as people are left without livable spaces and valuable resources are wasted. Our goal is an EU legislation against speculation with these existing living spaces.

To reach this goal we have to activate what is already there. Through policies focused on building preservation, adaptation, renovation, and transformation. Our building stock is the foundation for a European right to living spaces, as existing buildings hold a lot of energy and value. Let us use it to create a more just and environmentally-friendly future.
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We all need a space to live, do you remember?
Our approach is grounded in social-ecological transformation. Contrary to what we have been led to believe, affordable living spaces are never either social or ecological – they are always both. This is what social-ecological transformation is about: a process of changing the social, economic, and environmental structures and systems to create a more sustainable and just society.

It involves addressing issues such as climate change, resource depletion, social inequality, and economic instability through collaborative efforts and innovative solutions that promote the well-being of both people and the planet. The goal of the social-ecological transformation is to shift towards a more just and sustainable future, and to do so in a way that empowers individuals and communities to take an active role in shaping their own futures.
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take P–A–R–T and Preserve, Adapt, Renovate, Transform and

Preservation

Reuse don't demolish!

We call for the preservation of existing buildings and the energy invested in it. By doing so, we can save valuable resources and maintain social and cultural values. Our aim is to prioritize reuse over demolition as the first step towards achieving affordable living spaces for all.

Adaptation

Adapt don't abandon!

We call for the adaptation of existing structures and underused spaces. By doing so, we can give Europe's building stock a new purpose. Our aim is to adapt buildings that fell out of use, and by doing so activate the potential of the existing building stock.

Renovation

Build for the future!

We call for the renovation, repair and care of existing buildings. This reduces waste and co2 emissions. Our aim is to renovate future-proof, which means to (re)build in a long-lasting way, which limits the unnecessary use of additional material and new construction.

Transformation

House Europe!

We call for the transformation of existing structures: social, environmental and economic. Our aim is to implement policies that ensure equity, resilience and community-building. We need new cultural narratives: from spaces as commodity to spaces as necessity.

HouseEurope!
Ownership comes with responsibility. Space is a common good, not a commodity. Let's make it a reality!
HouseEurope! is a European Citizens' Initiative (ECI). ECI's allow citizens from all EU countries to propose new laws or changes to existing ones. Therefore, one million citizens from at least seven member states must support the proposal, for the European Commission to consider it. This gives citizens a direct say in the EU policymaking process and helps bring attention to our important issues, like the right to living spaces.

We are currently in the first phase of the ECI process, which involves forming a 'citizens' committee' comprising people from (at least) seven EU member states. This committee will be responsible for developing a final proposal that falls within the framework of existing EU policies and competences. A team of EU lawyers is working with us on the draft to ensure that our proposal is sound and legally viable.

Our goal is to have our ECI proposal ready and registered with the EU Commission by fall 2023. Approximately six months after this registration, all EU citizens will have the opportunity to vote on our proposal.

We invite you to follow our journey as we work towards making a difference in the European legislation. If you're passionate about shaping the future of spatial politics and want to be a part of this journey, join us! At this stage, we're looking for Partners, Supporters, and Volunteers. You can sign up or learn more about the ECI process and our campaign on our JOIN and INFO pages.
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