Housing policy and the challenges citizens currently face in accessing affordable housing were the focus of the third hybrid workshop organized by ALPHA Cyprus, titled “Housing Policy: Challenges and Policies in the EU,” as part of the European program “European Parliament: Your Voice, Your Future,” which is co-funded by the European Union.

The event highlighted the importance of close coordination between European and national policies in addressing the housing crisis, as well as the need for meaningful citizen participation in shaping the policies that affect their daily lives.

During her presentation, the Director of the Housing Policy Directorate at the Ministry of the Interior, Patina Taramidou, presented the active housing programs currently being implemented in Cyprus, informing participants about the support tools available to young people, families, and other segments of the population.

At the same time, she emphasized that modern housing policy is shaped through close cooperation between the national and European levels, as many of the strategic priorities, reforms, and financing tools are directly linked to the policies and objectives of the European Union.

For her part, Dr. Anastasia Karatzia presented the European research project EU-CIEMBLY, which examines the role of Citizens’ Assemblies as a mechanism of participatory democracy in shaping public policies.

As part of her presentation, she outlined the key recommendations that emerged from the Citizens’ Assembly, highlighting the importance of involving diverse social groups in public dialogue, as well as the need for housing policies to take into account the multiple forms of inequality and exclusion that affect access to housing.

Particular mention was made of the intersectional approach, which highlights that factors such as gender, age, economic status, disability, or migrant background can create different experiences and barriers to accessing safe and affordable housing.

The event concluded with a discussion and exchange of views between the speakers and the audience, reaffirming that housing policy is a complex challenge, the resolution of which requires cooperation among European institutions, the government, the academic community, and citizens themselves.

The workshop is the third thematic event in the series “What Does the European Union Do for Me?”, organized by ALPHA Cyprus as part of the European Parliament: Your Voice, Your Future, with the aim of informing citizens and strengthening their participation in the public dialogue surrounding the policies and priorities of the European Union.

The “EP: Your Voice, Your Future” program was co-funded by the European Union under the European Parliament’s grant program in the field of communication. The European Parliament did not participate in its preparation and bears no responsibility, nor is it in any way associated with the information or opinions expressed in the program, for which sole responsibility lies with the authors, the interviewees, the publishers, or the program’s broadcasters, in accordance with applicable law. The European Parliament also accepts no liability for any damages, whether direct or indirect, that may arise from the implementation of the program.