In a new Eurocities survey spanning 92 mayors across 28 European countries, climate change and affordable housing have emerged as the leading concerns for urban leaders heading into a critical election period. While climate action remains the top priority—cited by 67% of mayors—concern over affordable and social housing has surged, with 30% of respondents highlighting it as a major issue. That figure represents a doubling compared to the previous year.
The results underscore how the continent’s housing affordability crisis is broadening. Once a problem affecting only low-income communities, the shortage of affordable urban housing now impacts middle-class residents, including essential public workers like teachers, nurses, and transport staff, who increasingly find themselves priced out of cities.
Mayors are calling for stronger collaboration with the European Union to tackle these twin crises. Among their top requests are greater funding for sustainable urban mobility and the creation of an EU housing platform to improve cooperation among national, regional, and local governments.
While cities remain committed to achieving climate neutrality, 94% of mayors identified funding limitations as the main barrier to implementing effective environmental policies. The report signals widespread frustration with access to EU-level financial mechanisms, which many say remain out of reach or overly bureaucratic.
Beyond funding, the mayors expressed a desire for deeper integration with EU institutions. Nearly half of those surveyed advocated for a formal long-term strategy to strengthen collaboration between cities and the EU—one that would offer a seat at the decision-making table and direct access to financial and technical support.
As Europe prepares for upcoming elections, the findings from this survey highlight the increasingly central role of cities in meeting both environmental and social policy challenges. With their proximity to citizens and frontline responsibilities, Europe’s mayors are positioning themselves as indispensable partners in building a sustainable and inclusive future.
