European Parliament Calls for Construction of Ten Million Homes and VAT Reform

The European Parliament has presented a comprehensive recovery plan for the European real estate market, which is grappling with an unprecedented supply deficit. In their latest report, MEPs point to the necessity of building at least 10 million new residential units to balance demand and curb the rapid rise in prices. The proposed solutions involve deep fiscal intervention, including the introduction of super-reduced rates of VAT on construction materials and renovation services. Brussels also wants administrative processes related to issuing building permits not to exceed 60 days, which is intended to significantly speed up the investment cycle in member states. In addition to increasing the number of investments, the EU document places great emphasis on protecting tenants from abuses in the rental market and rigorous enforcement of property rights. The reform envisages facilitating eviction procedures in cases of people illegally occupying properties (so-called *okupación*), which is meant to encourage private owners to make vacant properties available. It also points to the need to monitor speculative practices that lead to artificially inflated rents in the continent's largest metropolises. Although the document is not legally binding, it sets a direction for national governments, which must face the fact that in 2025, housing prices in Spain rose by an average of 4.4%, and in regions such as Cantabria by over 14%. Since the 2008 financial crisis, the pace of new housing construction in Europe has systematically declined, which, combined with low interest rates in the following decade, led to a gigantic speculative bubble.While Europe debates walls, Spain faces paralysis on the tracks. Infrastructure failure has led to the suspension of key AVE connections between Madrid and Malaga and Cordoba. This situation is infuriating tourism entrepreneurs, who fear mass cancellations ahead of the approaching Holy Week. Meanwhile, in Barcelona, on the eve of the Mobile World Congress, a train drivers' strike was averted, allowing for the smooth handling of thousands of delegates arriving for the world's largest technology fair. In the shadow of these events, Argentina made the controversial decision to lower the age of criminal responsibility from 16 to 14 years, responding to rising juvenile crime, which was met with immediate criticism from human rights organizations. „Europe needs 10 million homes to end the housing crisis and ensure the right to a dignified life.” — European Parliament

Perspektywy mediów: Media with a social-liberal profile emphasize the need to protect tenants from evictions and the fight against digital colonialism during the congress in Barcelona. Conservative media emphasize the fight against illegal occupants (okupa) and support harsher penalties for juvenile offenders in Argentina.