Affordable, decent housing is, in the view of the partners at the European Public Health Conference, a prerequisite for the health of the population. In a joint statement on the meeting in Bilbao they call for health criteria to be given greater weight in Housing and urban planning to be incorporated.
The 19th European Public Health Conference takes place from 11 to 13 November 2026 at the Euskalduna Conference Centre in Bilbao. Pre-conferences were held on 10 November. Spanish news agency Europa Press reported on Friday on the conference partners’ statement. The paper identifies five themes that are also intended to shape the European Public Health Week 2027 .
A healthy home must be safe and affordable, provide enough space, and be capable of being kept warm in winter and cool in summer, the statement says. This includes clean water, sanitation and a clean environment. The signatories therefore view housing conditions not only as a social or economic issue, but also as part of health policy.
The paper warns of the consequences of treating homes as financial assets. It says speculation and short-term lets drive up prices and displace people, while homes are neglected elsewhere. Both exacerbate social and health inequalities. The statement gives no specific price trends or figures on displacement in Bilbao.
The conference partners recommend including health criteria in housing and planning standards. The health effects of housing policy decisions should also be assessed, and the impact of unaffordable, insecure or substandard homes monitored. This requires cooperation between health policy, housing, urban planning and social policy. The statement is a political appeal, not a law.
Alongside housing, the five priorities address health in cities and their surrounding areas, Climate change, Migration and peace. The signatories call for hazards such as heat, flooding and drought to be taken into account proactively in urban and regional planning. Measures should reach in particular those most exposed to such risks.
On migration, the paper advocates access to Healthcare and to essential services. It also mentions mental health and social cohesion. It describes peace and respect for international law as prerequisites for public health, while also calling for international cooperation and the exchange of scientific findings.
Editor: Phillipe Schmidt-Araguin (Article created with AI assistance).