Commission presented its plans for the future of the New European Bauhaus (NEB). Adopted as part of the European Affordable Housing Plan, the Communication “New European Bauhaus: From vision to implementation” and its accompanying proposal for a Council Recommendation set out the key actions to scale up the initiative and strengthen its role as a driver of the clean transition and innovation in Europe and beyond.
Scaling-up NEB and driving forward the clean transition and neighbourhoods
Building on its first five years of achievements, the NEB will take on a stronger role in supporting the clean transition and innovation in Europe and beyond. It will expand its support for businesses, innovators and communities, helping to drive an inclusive, sustainable and quality-focused transformation of neighbourhoods and industries.
Europe is facing a period of significant change. Communities are dealing with pressures linked to housing affordability and quality, the impacts of climate change on daily life, and the rapid evolution of new technologies. These create uncertainty, and people need spaces that support a sense of belonging, quality of life and the feeling of security.
The NEB responds to these challenges. To strengthen its role as a driver of the clean transition and innovation, the Communication on the New European Bauhaus focuses on three main objectives:
- enhancing circularity, sustainability and innovation in the built environment by supporting the circular economy and bioeconomy, promoting research, scaling up innovative solutions and reinforcing community resilience to natural disasters;
- empowering citizens through participatory processes to strengthen democratic, inclusive and resilient neighbourhoods;
- and harnessing the transformative power of education, arts and culture to boost creativity and innovation for local transformation.
Flagship actions to translate objectives in results
The NEB will provide tools and guidance to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of the built environment and make better use of under- and unoccupied spaces. It will also develop a digital catalogue on blueprints for affordable and resilient housing and fund the creation of NEB demonstrators showcasing low-carbon, circular, and bio-based solutions.
The NEB Academy will serve as the main structure for experimentation, reskilling and upskilling of the construction sector, and business development offering sandboxes and supporting start-ups to develop innovative solutions aligned with NEB values.
The NEB Community will expand across sectors and groups, and grassroots participation will be reinforced to support the replication and scaling of proven solutions, with a particular focus on affordable housing. Flagship activities, such as the NEB Festival, the NEB Prizes, and dedicated NEB Labs, will continue to bring communities together and showcase innovative approaches.