The dwelling has become one of the Main problems for citizens in Europe and, waiting for the European Commission’s proposal to An affordable housing planthe Euro Popular Spanish Party Borja Giménez A this Thursday has presented a Preliminary European Parliament Report About his recipe for response to the crisis, among the criticism of progressive forces.
“The situation is urgent”Giménez said, who has pointed to the important rise in prices, both rent and sale. “In our opinion, the main problem is clear, demand is high and supply is too low”, Underlined the popular who is the rapporteur of a report in which the special commission of the European Parliament for the housing crisis has been working for months.
That text is based on five pillars: work with local and regional authorities, build and renew more houses, foster private investment, support demand helping the most vulnerable groupsand bet on “data -based” solutions. Based on those pillars, Giménez has presented a series of proposals that They have not convinced everyone.
The recipe
The Eurodiput has pointed to The lack of soil available, the long deadlines to obtain permitsfiscal pressure or high costs of raw materials among the main reasons that explain that construction has decreased. He also blames it for Lack of labor and financing. Ask the Commission for Formulas to simplify processes and mobilize private investment.
“Must support those who are staying behindpeople who do not have a home, young people who cannot buy their first home, families that They cannot afford to pay a rentalessential workers, teachers, doctors, police who cannot live near their workplaces, ”said Giménez. The MEP proposes Cheap tax exemptions or mortgages For the first purchase, and facilitate access to rent for young people.
In his report, however, the Eurodiputa Reject price control as an “ineffective” measure that often worsens the situation. On the contrary, it alleges that it is the flexibility in the relations between homemade and tenants “the absence of rents on rentals It promotes investment in housing and helps stop the pressure On real estate prices, thus stimulating supply in high demand areas. ”
On the pressure in high demand areas, Giménez has also requested A report on the impact of short -lived rents in the market. “Regulation and order is needed. The approach must be balanced. Protect access to housing, but also tourism,” he said.
Criticism from the left
The recipe that Giménez has presented this Thursday has not convinced its progressive colleagues, that they consider it partial. “We need more rights for tenants and no less”the German socialist, Andreas Schiederinsisting that we must “stop real estate speculation.”
Schieder has also questioned the “Data -Based” solutions of Giménez. “We have to regulate short -term rentals”he said, “the statistics that all European citizens provide us every day.” The German agreed with the tax incentives, especially with respect to large investment groups.
Also the Spanish socialist MARCOS ROS SAMPERE He has questioned some of Giménez’s proposals. “Deregulation can be part of an answer, but it cannot be the main one. A market with few rules is what has brought us to this crisis”, He warned, rejecting that the solution to all housing problems are in the market itself. An analysis shared by the Finnish Eurodiputa of the Greens, Maria Ohisalo. “Market -driven solutions, which are lucrative and are simply based on building more and simplifying regulations, cannot resolve the housing crisis in Europe,” Ohisalo said.
The Eurodiputada, who considers positive the commitment of the report by invest not only in construction but also in renewalhas a quite different vision of the roots of the problem. “We do not believe that the lack of affordable homes is simply a matter of insufficiency of the housing supply, but also There are other important causes that explain the housing crisissuch as inadequate homes, the increase in public services costs, housing financing, ”he said.
First step
The presentation of the draft of the report is only the first step. Now, a long process of negotiations between the different political groups begins, which will exchange amendments to agree on a final text. That text should be approved in commission in February and in the plenary of the European Parliament in March. But the European Commission has advanced.
The president, Ursula von der Leyen, announced during his speech about the state of the Union a few weeks ago his intention to present an affordable housing plan before the end of the year. “It is more than a housing crisis, it is a social crisis. It tears the social fabric of Europe, weakens our cohesion and also threatens our competitiveness,” said the German.
That text will arrive predictably Before the European Parliament Reportthus limiting its ability to influence. Asked by the matter, the president of the parliamentary commission on the housing crisis, Irene Tinaglihe has assured that contact with the community executive is constant and has been shared with him Much of the information that feels the basis of the report.
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