The Vienna “Resolution for Social Housing in Europe” was signed by the mayors of 30 European metropolises. Moreover, it was demanded to implement EU legislation in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity.

Vienna’s former Mayor Dr. Michael Häupl and the former Executive City Councillor for Housing, Housing Construction and Urban Renewal and current Mayor Dr. Michael Ludwig jointly launched an initiative at EU level which demands to leave the definition of social housing and the decision on the type of provision to the EU Member States and their regional and local authorities. This initiative was inter alia motivated by several negative developments: Sweden has completely discontinued its efficient housing subsidy system, and income thresholds in the Netherlands were reduced so massively that none but the lowest-income population groups still have access to subsidised housing.
 

Social peace

The “Vienna Model” of promoting a good social mix in social housing estates constitutes a positive result of continuity in urban housing policies. Contrary to many other European cities, the social status of a Viennese resident cannot be gleaned from his or her home address. This social balance forms the basis for harmonious social interactions and prevents segregation tendencies. Over 50 percent of Vienna’s population live in municipal or subsidised dwellings. If these flats were solely reserved for low-income population groups, the majority of Viennese would have no access to affordable, secure dwellings.

For this reason, Michael Häupl and Michael Ludwig (both members of the Austrian Social-Democratic Party SPÖ) initiated the “Resolution for Social Housing in Europe”. So far, mayors of 30 major European cities have signed this document. The cities are aware of the significance of socially oriented urban development and call upon on the European Commission to leave the definition of social housing and the decision on the type of provision to the EU Member States and their regional and local authorities.

Text of the resolution (in German)
https://www.staedtebund.gv.at/fileadmin/USERDATA/Service/Dokumente/2013_resolution_oestb.pdf