The European Commission (EC) has finalized the first package of EU measures to overcome the housing crisis facing EU countries, reports the Spanish newspaper El País.
The rapid rise in housing prices (according to Eurostat, an average of 60.5% between 2015 and 2025) has become a factor in reducing the quality of life of citizens. The plan, being developed by the EC, will include initiatives to regulate tourist rentals in the EU, more flexible state aid rules and will allow unused funds from the so-called Cohesion Fund to be used to build public or affordable housing.
EU heads of state and government are expected to discuss the situation during a summit on 23 October. Housing issues are the responsibility of member states and, in some cases, such as Spain, also of regions, so the EC has been left out. However, given the rapidly rising prices and the level of public discontent, the situation has changed.
The discussions are complex. Some capitals, including Paris and Berlin, have expressed doubts about the EC's authority to propose measures on an issue they consider national.
Detailed statistics on average property prices in Bulgaria by city and neighborhood can be found at imot.bg