The Socialists and Democrats applaud Dan Jørgensen, Commissioner-designate for energy and housing, for his firm commitments regarding our progressive priorities in these two key areas. Affordable homes for all and bringing energy bills down are two flagship projects of social democracy. The S&Ds put them on the EU’s agenda. 

Gaby Bischoff, S&D vice-president for social Europe, said: 

“Affordable and decent homes for all is our indisputable priority in this mandate, as we observe record housing costs across Europe hitting hard the young and old, the poorest and the middle class, while the rich are getting wealthier trading human rights for profit. Housing is a social good and a human right, not a commodity for trading and speculation. 

“We are proud that we have managed to secure the first ever European Commissioner for housing, and we are happy to see a social democrat in this role. Congratulations, Dan Jørgensen, for an excellent performance today, demonstrating great commitment to progressive housing priorities. The European affordable housing plan is in safe hands. 

“Together with the new Commissioner, we will strive for massive investments into affordable, decent and sustainable housing, strict conditions on how to use public and private investments, reform of state aid rules, adequate regulation of short-term rentals, ensuring affordable ownership, social housing for vulnerable groups and student housing, as well as eradicating homelessness.” 

Mohammed Chahim, S&D vice-president for energy, said: 

“Our main goal is to protect people from new energy price shocks and stop windfall profits. We are satisfied to hear clear commitments to that end from the new Commissioner for energy. Market manipulation in wholesale energy markets not only harms consumers by artificially inflating prices, but mainly jeopardises the EU’s industry competitiveness and erodes trust in the market, discouraging investment and innovation in the energy sector. Therefore, it is important to address the problem at its origin by ending speculations in the electricity and gas market. 

“We also welcome a clear pledge to fight energy poverty that remains a significant challenge, affecting millions of households across the Union. To ensure swift implementation of EU legislation on energy performance of buildings - with a special focus on renovating the worst performing buildings, mostly inhabited by vulnerable groups - sufficient fresh resources should be provided to citizens. 

“Together with the new Commissioner, we will continue our efforts to lower electricity prices for households and businesses, especially for energy intensive industries. For this to work, it will be crucial to ensure synergies of energy policies are at the core of the EU industrial agenda. This will demand a boost in innovation of sustainable energy technologies for Europe to be in a competitive position and putting forward a plan of investments in electricity infrastructure as the backbone to enable the upcoming electrification action plan. 

“We will also strive for initiatives to ensure supply of sustainable, affordable and secure energy. More precisely, putting in the centre the energy security framework with the security of supply, the role of energy savings, system flexibility, energy efficiency first principle, decentralisation of energy production and addressing cross-border challenges in electricity grids.”