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Official Journal EN
of the European Union L series
2026/1863 27.7.2026
COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION(EU) 2026/1863
of 17 July 2026
on the request for registration, pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2019/788 of the European Parliament
and of the Council, of the European citizens’ initiative entitled ‘Right to Housing! Now and Forever’
(notified under document C(2026) 4960)
(Only the English text is authentic)
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Regulation (EU) 2019/788 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2019 on the
European citizens’ initiative(1), and in particular Article 6(3) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) A request for registration of a European citizens’ initiative entitled ‘Right to Housing! Now and Forever’ was
submitted to the Commission on 23 April 2026.
(2) By letter of 26 May 2026 (C(2026) 3498 final), pursuant to Article 6(4) of Regulation (EU) 2019/788, the
Commission informed the group of organisers that as regards the request for registration submitted on 23 April
2026, the requirements for registration set out in Article 6(3), first subparagraph, points (a), (d) and (e), of that
Regulation were fulfilled and that Article 6(3), first subparagraph, point (b), thereof was not applicable. However, the
Commission also explained that parts of the initiative did not fulfil the requirement set out in Article 6(3), first
subparagraph, point (c), of Regulation (EU) 2019/788.
(3) The Commission therefore informed the organisers pursuant to Article 6(4), first subparagraph, of Regulation
(EU) 2019/788 that they could either amend the initiative to take into account the Commission’s assessment, or
maintain, or withdraw, the initial initiative in accordance with Article 6(4), second subparagraph, of Regulation
(EU) 2019/788.
(4) On 22 June 2026, the group of organisers submitted an amended initiative.
(5) The aim of the amended initiative as expressed by the organisers is to ‘demand access to housing that is affordable,
sustainable and fair’. The organisers call for nine measures: (i) ‘Regulate short-term rentals and vacancy’; (ii) ‘Convert
empty buildings, like vacant homes and offices, into housing’; (iii) ‘Create incentives and fast permits to make
renovation the first choice’; (iv) ‘Ensure public money serves people not speculation’; (v) ‘Reform fiscal rules so
governments can invest more in housing’; (vi) ‘Create an EU housing fund’; (vii) ‘Set enforceable standards to keep
housing affordable and sustainable’; (viii) ‘Keep people in their homes during EU-funded renovation’; (ix) ‘Establish
an EU Housing Agency to govern transparently’. An annex to the amended initiative provides further details on its
background, its subject matter and its objectives. An additional document containing a legal proposal was submitted
by the organisers as part of their registration request.
(6) The Commission considers that as regards measures (i), (ii), (iv) and (ix), at this stage it cannot be excluded that, based
on Article 114 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), the Commission could propose
measures: to regulate short-term rentals and vacancy; relating to the conversion of unused buildings into housing;
acting against speculation; regarding the establishment of an EU Housing Agency.
(7) As regards measures (v) and (vi), at this stage it cannot be excluded that the Commission could propose the reform of
fiscal rules and the creation of an EU housing fund, based on Articles 113 and 115 TFEU and Articles 174 and 175
TFEU.
(1) OJ L 130, 17.5.2019, p. 55, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2019/788/oj.
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2026/1863/oj 1/2EN
OJ L, 27.7.2026
(8) Concerning measure (iii), at this stage it cannot be excluded that the Commission could propose measures relating to
certain aspects of housing permitting, based on Articles 192 and 194 TFEU.
(9) Regarding measure (vii), at this stage it cannot be excluded that the Commission could propose measures to set
enforceable standards to keep housing affordable, based on Articles 64 and 114 TFEU.
(10) Finally, as regards measure (viii), at this stage it cannot be excluded that the Commission could introduce targeted
amendments to specific EU funding instruments to protect tenants from displacement, based on Articles 175, 177,
178 and 322 TFEU.
(11) For those reasons, the Commission considers that none of the parts of the initiative manifestly falls outside the
framework of the Commission’s powers to submit a proposal for a legal act of the Union for the purpose of
implementing the Treaties.
(12) That conclusion does not affect the assessment of whether the concrete substantive conditions required for the
Commission to act, including compliance with the principles of proportionality and subsidiarity and compatibility
with fundamental rights, would be met in this case.
(13) The group of organisers has provided appropriate evidence that it fulfils the requirements laid down in Article 5(1)
and (2) of Regulation (EU) 2019/788 and has designated the contact persons in accordance with Article 5(3), first
subparagraph, of that Regulation.
(14) The initiative is not manifestly abusive, frivolous or vexatious, nor is it manifestly contrary to the values of the Union
as set out in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union or to the rights enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental
Rights of the European Union.
(15) The initiative entitled ‘Right to Housing! Now and Forever’ should therefore be registered.
(16) The conclusion that the conditions for registration under Article 6(3) of Regulation (EU) 2019/788 are fulfilled does
not imply that the Commission in any way confirms the factual correctness of the content of the initiative, which is
the sole responsibility of the group of organisers of the initiative. The content of the initiative only expresses the
views of the group of organisers, and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the Commission,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The European citizens’ initiative entitled ‘Right to Housing! Now and Forever’ shall be registered.
Article 2
This Decision is addressed to the group of organisers of the citizens’ initiative entitled ‘Right to Housing! Now and Forever’,
represented by Josiane SCHMIDT and Francesca Romana D'ANTUONO acting as contact persons.
Done at Brussels, 17 July 2026.
For the Commission
Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ
Member of the Commission
2/2 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2026/1863/oj