Former Green Party leader Eamon Ryan has been selected to chair the European Union’s new housing advisory board, marking his return to public policy work after stepping away from Irish politics.
Ryan will lead a 16-member expert panel tasked with providing independent policy recommendations to address Europe’s housing crisis. The role involves developing strategies to reduce the costs of building, buying and renting homes across EU member states.
The appointment follows a competitive selection process with over 200 applicants for positions on the board, which comes with travel expenses and reimbursement fees. The panel brings together housing policy experts from diverse backgrounds to tackle one of Europe’s most pressing challenges.
The EU initiative aims to ease housing pressures by loosening public expenditure rules and exploring new collaboration methods between member states. Recent considerations include potential restrictions on short-term rental platforms to increase housing supply in major cities.
Ryan confirmed his appointment on social media, describing his enthusiasm for the role. The position adds to his recent appointment as a high advocate for Ireland in a UN Environment Programme coalition between governments and green NGOs.
The former Transport and Climate Minister stepped down as Green Party leader in June 2024 after 13 years and chose not to contest the general election. His EU appointment follows similar post-politics moves by other senior figures, including Leo Varadkar and Simon Coveney, who entered private sector advisory roles.