The president of the Andalusian regional government Juanma Moreno on 23 September 2026 in Mullingar (Ireland) before the Bureau of the European Committee of the Regions, described the housing crisis as one of Europe’s biggest problems and called for effective responses tailored to each territory. He called for regions and municipalities to be given more scope and reliable funding tools to deliver social housing, renovation and measures against the misuse of housing.
According to the Junta de Andalucía Moreno spoke at the Bureau meeting and pointed to differing regional conditions: urban areas facing sharply rising rents contrast with rural areas with vacant homes. He specifically urged that European rules be designed to allow flexible local implementation rather than becoming rigid standards. Reliable funding frameworks were also needed to make investment predictable.
Moreno cited the situation in Ceutaas an example of territorial particularities. The border situation of the Spanish exclave showed that European policies must take regional differences into account systematically. He placed specific measures in Andalusia within a broader context: infrastructure and energy transition programmes are increasingly being linked to housing and urban development policies, to use land efficiently and modernise existing buildings.
The European Committee of the Regions has been debating housing policy for some time. Its opinions welcome EU initiatives, such as those on short-term rentals, but also call for additional investment and a stronger role for the regions. Moreno’s intervention follows this line. Whether the European Commission, the Council of the European Union or the European Parliament adopts proposals from the Committee of the Regions will depend on future legislative procedures and budget negotiations.
Factual details about the place, date and setting of the speech are based on statements from the Junta de Andalucía and publications by the European Committee of the Regions. The views and demands quoted are attributable to Moreno. No immediate decisions were announced in Mullingar; the speech set out a political position ahead of forthcoming debates at European level.
Andalusia is directly affected by these developments. In cities, demand and limited supply intensify price pressures, while outlying areas struggle to maintain housing stock and infrastructure. Against this background, Moreno called for a housing agenda that brings investment together, simplifies approval procedures and strengthens municipal planning tools without flattening local differences.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).