Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez will request this Thursday at the EU27 summit that the European Union establish a specific fund for social housing construction and implement measures to curb non-residential property purchases across Europe.
For the first time in a European Council meeting, housing has been included on the agenda at Spain's request. Sánchez, speaking to journalists upon arrival, outlined the key proposals he intends to present. He emphasised that this is a pan-European challenge requiring a unified community response.
The Spanish leader's proposals include legal mechanisms to restrict property purchases for non-residential use. He also advocated for European tools to address "pressured zones" in cities where housing prices have escalated due to tourism impact. Additionally, he called for a dedicated EU fund for social housing construction.
Housing accessibility concerns
"We're discussing a European-wide issue - the impossibility of accessing housing affects young people and not-so-young people alike, whether they're Spanish, Italian, French or German", Sánchez stated. He emphasised that addressing the EU's social pillar means creating a Europe that serves its citizens.
Municipal engagement
Sánchez highlighted the ongoing dialogue between European Council President António Costa and a group of major European city mayors, including Barcelona's Jaume Collboni. These municipal leaders are also seeking legal instruments from the EU to address what they consider a significant social crisis in housing accessibility.
The Spanish Prime Minister also reviewed other summit agenda items, including the situations in Ukraine and the Middle East, migration policies, security and defence matters, and climate change initiatives.