The housing debate was a very important process from the perspective of the Central and Eastern European member states of the EU. Leaving behind their socialist past, they have learnt in these negotiations what it means to participate in a real debate. These negotiations were crucial for the Central and Eastern European countries to understand that they are now really full members of a larger community, and that they can, if they have valid arguments, successfully influence common policies.

The success of the negotiations with the Commission does not mean the story is over. How much of the new opportunities to use Structural Funds for the improvement of run-down residential areas will be used in practice, and how many programmes and projects are developed on this basis, depends largely on the approach taken at national level and by the regions and cities. There are already signs of unwillingness at regional and local level to apply the new measures, as these are much more difficult, long-lasting and complex than simply spending EU money on new greenfield investments. Thus, the experts and committed civil servants need to continue their cooperation if the potential offered by the EU support is to be realised. This is, however, a different story, potentially deserving a separate critical analysis in the future.

This paper was published in the journal 'Urban Research & Practice' of the European Urban Research Association.

Metropolitan Research Institute
Budapest
Phone: +36-1 217 90 41
mri@mri.hu
Iván Tosics (researcher), tel. + 36-1 216 30 01

/03/2008

policy

Urban Policy > Housing

Housing policy