EU experts discuss housing, the labour market and climate resilience

The Peer2Peer expert networks operating under the auspices of DG REGIO have for many years gathered employees of administrations implementing, managing or auditing cohesion policy funds. The online meeting, which took place on 23 October 2025, brought together nearly 60 practitioners. The topics discussed included:

• affordable housing – policy and implementation challenges in providing accessible accommodation;
• youth employment – how can investment, skills development and labour market reforms support young people?
• urban adaptation – resilience and adaptation to current environmental and social challenges.

The labour market in the current geopolitical situation is particularly demanding, especially for young people who are just starting to participate in it. During the meeting, examples of measures taken to support youth employment in Spain and Poland were discussed. Solutions functioning in the Spanish system (where the problem of youth unemployment is particularly acute) were presented, including those related to the use of EU funds to support youth employment.

The scale of the so-called ‘NEET’ problem in Poland was also presented, i.e. the group of people who are not in employment, education or training (based on data from the Central Statistical Office), as well as the tools for supporting the employment of disadvantaged groups within the Polish public procurement system and within the use of EU funds, in connection with the provisions of the new Act of 20 March 2025 on the labour market and employment services, which will come into force on 1 June 2025. This presentation was given by Przemysław Ostrowski from the Control and Audit Department of CEUTP.

Julita Kowalska from the Transport Analysis Department at CEUTP, in her speech on adaptation to climate change, pointed to the shared responsibility and specific actions that need to be taken at the level of European cities. Climate change is becoming increasingly noticeable – we can see it with the naked eye, and discussions about the need to adapt are becoming more frequent. Examples of actions taken in Poland in this area were therefore discussed. A lot is happening – local governments can apply for European funds to develop urban climate change adaptation plans. Projects that increase the resilience of cities and communities to the effects of climate change are also subsidised. The public administration actively supports the development of knowledge and competences in this area – numerous training courses and workshops are organised. At the regional and local levels, urban adaptation plans are being prepared.

The CEUTP also conducts educational activities for its employees, supports beneficiaries in reducing transport emissions and introducing green and blue solutions in transport projects.

Together, we are working to ensure a better life for ourselves – today and in the future. Because climate protection and adaptation to climate change are not only a challenge, but also our shared responsibility for what we can still save.

The next meetings of experts within the DG REGIO Peer2Peer network are coming soon. More information is available at dedicated website.