More than 1,500 amendments and a vote that could last two hours.
On the evening of Monday 9 February, the European Parliament’s special committee on housing will vote on the report by Spanish EPP member Borja Giménez Larraz (see EUROPE 13788/10). It is expected to be adopted with the support of a pro-European majority and the ECR and PfE groups.
While the Spaniard’s first draft had displeased the S&D group (see EUROPE 13717/24), the latest draft reportedly gave most groups the opportunity to rally behind the rapporteur, particularly the S&D, which is nevertheless said to have found negotiations with the EPP difficult.
Groups such as The Left also reportedly felt that the report was still too weak and did not allow housing to be considered a fundamental right.
The report is intended to provide input for the forthcoming work by the European Commission, which has already promised a regulatory framework for short-term rentals in areas under pressure. It has already proposed relaxing the rules on State aid and the definition of services of general economic interest to include middle-class housing.
Not harming tourism. Forty-nine compromise amendments have been negotiated. One of these amendments, for example, addresses the need to regulate short-term rentals, such as those offered by platforms like Airbnb. The compromise text stresses that “tourism is a vital economic driver for the EU, as it contributes to 10% of the EU’s GDP, significantly impacting growth, employment and social development, which makes it an asset in addressing economic downturns and unemployment”.
The measures or actions proposed “should not generate negative perceptions of tourism or deter tourism; whereas short-term rental schemes, ranging from entire homes to individual rooms, can contribute positively to the local economies, help address depopulation by promoting rural tourism, support the preservation of old properties, and provide an additional source of income for owners and tenants”.
At the same time, the text points out that the increase in short-term lettings and the growing decline in residential accommodation may come in detriment of residential housing, especially in tourism-intensive regions such as major cities and coastal, island and outermost regions.
“Whereas diverse solutions are needed, given the diverse nature of local realities and the number of municipalities and local territorial entities in the Union. Whereas regulation of this activity, if needed, is better accomplished at a level closer to the citizen, as the principle of subsidiarity mandates”.
On SGEIs, “Member States, in line with the principle of subsidiarity, should have the discretionary power to support this according to their local, regional or national needs”. Any revision of the rules on State aid must not be to the detriment of investment in social housing.
Student accommodation. The draft report also calls on the Commission to launch “a European model of student housing” that goes beyond mere accommodation towards fostering students’ well-being, community life and personal growth. It calls on Member States to set up national housing strategies and incentivise the development of affordable student accommodation near higher education institutions.
Essential workers. Attention is also paid to essential workers, such as “firefighters, social workers, care workers and other essential public service employees”. Member States could “set up social housing models” for this group.
Taxation. The draft also emphasises access to property, whereas in some Member States housing can be subject to excessive taxation for households. “Balanced tax incentives, such as reduced taxes for first-time buyers, could help improve housing affordability”.
Squats. The draft report also includes information on illegal occupation of dwellings and notes that “disrespect for property affects communities and small property owners”.
Furthermore, private property is “threatened by illegal occupation, known as squatting, and systematic non-payment of rent phenomena, which harms communities and particularly small property owners, forcing them to exit the market and to rightfully recover their property, thereby reducing the available supply and contributing to rising prices”.
Staying illegally in accommodation also breaches the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and constitutes “a violation of the rule of law”. The EU, Member States and public authorities must therefore protect the rights of owners. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)