00:02EU governments are warning that Brussels' attempt to simplify housing regulation through its so-called omnibuses could be backfiring.
00:11Concerns grow that new rules may actually slow down urgently needed projects, a letter led by Ireland and backed by
00:19six other EU countries reveals.
00:22The Irish government has asked Economy Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis to rethink plans to accelerate permitting procedures.
00:31It's stressed that faster approvals are vital to deliver housing and critical infrastructure.
00:38Alongside Ireland, Austria, Greece, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia argued that the issue is not over-regulation but poor alignment
00:47of EU laws.
00:48The request comes as Ireland faces a deepening housing crisis marked by soaring rents, widespread homelessness and chronic supply shortages.
00:58The issue extends beyond Ireland. House prices in the EU rose by 53% between 2010 and 2024 and rents
01:07by 25%.
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