European Commission - Directorate General for Energy

12/18/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 12/18/2025 12:54

Commissioner Jørgensen in Vienna to discuss energy policy and start the European Affordable Housing Tour

Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jørgensen is in Vienna, Austria, for a two-day visit to attend the 23rd Ministerial Council of the Energy Community, engage in discussions on energy policy and start his European Affordable Housing Tour.

This morning, at the Ministerial Council of the Energy Community, he highlighted the importance of energy markets integration, enlargement and cooperation on energy security for the Energy Community countries, and reaffirmed the EU's unwavering support to Ukraine in energy reconstruction and security.

Following the presentation of the European Grids Package and the Energy Highways initiative last week, today the Commissioner is meeting with Dr. Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer, Austria's Minister for Economy, Energy and Tourism, and the State Secretary Elisabeth Zehetner. A joint press point with the Minister is foreseen at around 12.45 CET.

Later this afternoon, Commissioner Jørgensen will meet with the EU Affairs Committee of the Austrian Parliament to discuss the recently adopted permanent ban on Russian natural gas imports, EU actions to reduce energy prices and the housing crisis, among others. He will also exchange on energy policy with the board of the Austrian Regulatory Authority, E-Control. Tomorrow, the Commissioner will visit a large-scale heat pump project which is aimed at making Vienna's heating system more sustainable and affordable.

The EU's efforts to make housing more affordable will feature prominently in the Commissioner's visit to Austria. The visit marks the first step of Jørgensen's European Affordable Housing Tour. For the next months, the Housing Commissioner will visit several EU cities and countries to facilitate the implementation of the first-ever European Affordable Housing Plan on the ground. He will exchange with Vice-Chancellor and Housing Minister, Andreas Babler, and the Mayor of Vienna, Michael Ludwig. Tomorrow, the Commissioner will visit the Ljuba-Welitsch-Promenade 18 project in Vienna, a municipal housing development project intended to secure affordable and social housing to over 4,000 people.

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