Partido Popular (PP) A Coruña hosted a significant EPP-CoR Local Dialogue focusing on the pressing issues of housing accessibility and youth emancipation. The event gathered local and regional leaders as well as experts to discuss challenges and propose solutions tailored to both urban and rural contexts.
Addressing the EPP-CoR Local Dialogue was Alfonso Rueda, President of Galicia who highlighted the need for a forward-looking housing policy rooted in pragmatism and efficiency. He stressed that many, especially young people, see their future and aspirations blocked by the lack of access to housing, which is essential for independence and building a future. Rueda emphasized that the duty of politics is to solve society’s problems by facilitating housing, constructing new homes, and making them available. He called for new budgets to implement solutions, continuing measures like youth guarantees, and mobilizing central government funds. Rueda proposed innovative solutions such as shared housing models, expanding support for young people, and lowering inheritance taxes to make it easier for families to pass down homes. He also emphasized the importance of facilitating and promoting public-private collaborations, providing fiscal incentives, and ensuring legal security.
"The lack of housing is blocking the future of young people. We need innovative solutions, lower taxes, and pragmatic policies to ensure access to homes." — Alfonso Rueda
Difficulties in Accessing Housing: Current Market Situation, Illegal Occupation, and Legal Insecurity
Carlos San Claudio, Councillor in A Coruña and EPP-CoR Young Elected Politician (YEP), highlighted that A Coruña is the second city in Spain experiencing a population decline. Citing INE data, he noted that one in four properties remains unoccupied, attributing this to policies that fail to provide security for landlords. He advocated for incentivizing youth emancipation and called for reforms to housing laws to address legal insecurities. The local PP proposes fostering public-private collaboration, converting empty commercial spaces into housing, facilitating permits, offering tax incentives, and supporting young people.
María Deza, Councillor for Urban Planning and Housing in Sanxenxo and Housing Speaker for the PP in the Galician Parliament, emphasized the PP’s initiatives to double the number of accessible homes, with significant progress by the Galician Government. She highlighted the importance of legislative changes to incentivize private initiatives and criticized erratic national housing policies. Deza stressed the need for measures supporting young people, noting that the average emancipation age in Spain exceeds 30, above the European average of 26-27.
Miguel Lorenzo expressed gratitude to the Committee of the Regions (CoR) and emphasized that housing is a social issue where the administration must act, not the citizen. He advocated for incentivizing landlords instead of penalizing them and rejected policies that benefit illegal occupants. Lorenzo stressed the need to facilitate access to housing.
José López Campos, Head of Youth Affairs for the Galician Government, emphasized the need to focus the debate on key areas like culture, arts, and youth. He stated that the party must lead policies that facilitate the emancipation of young people.
María Martínez Allegue, Head of Housing for the Galician Government, highlighted that housing is one of society’s main concerns and a key challenge. She outlined measures to strengthen housing policies, promote public housing, and implement new tools, including the creation of the Public Housing Society of Galicia and the PP Declaration of Asturias. Allegue stressed the need to facilitate access and improve supply without resorting to interventionism.
Addressing Housing Challenges: European Perspective, Youth Support, and Rural Development
Francisco Millán, Member of the European Parliament (MEP), shared a positive European perspective on housing. He emphasized that while housing policies fall under national or regional competences, Europe must contribute to solving this issue. Millán highlighted the European Parliament’s temporary committee on housing and stated that the EPP will lead efforts on this topic, reflecting a clear commitment from Brussels.
Nicole Grueira, President of Nuevas Generaciones del PP, stressed the importance of fiscal support for young people buying their first home, advocating for targeted aid programs. She highlighted shared housing as a successful model in Europe now being introduced in Galicia, particularly benefiting those under 36 and first-time home seekers.
Sandra Quintas, Mayor of Bande, focused on rural areas and depopulation. She stressed the need to retain young people and help them build their future in small municipalities. Quintas emphasized that tackling housing issues requires addressing employment opportunities, as emancipation is not possible without labor prospects. Maternity benefits are also essential to combat depopulation.
Blanca García, Councillor for Urban Planning, Accessibility, Housing, and Emancipation in Ferrol, highlighted that the primary challenge in Ferrol is recovering population, especially young people. She emphasized the importance of new urban planning ordinances to facilitate the launch of urban development projects.
The dialogue underscored the EPP's commitment to addressing housing challenges through collaborative efforts, policy reforms, and targeted support, ensuring that both urban and rural communities benefit from sustainable solutions.