Miguel Trias introduced the debate highlighting the growing importance of housing in Europe’s major cities. According to recent surveys, this issue has become citizens’ top concern, surpassing safety, unemployment, or other economic indicators. Trias connected this problem with key debates like productivity, delayed youth emancipation —which in Spain occurs around age 30— and immigrant integration, emphasizing that access to dignified housing is vital for social cohesion. He noted that in 2024 Cercle had issued a position paper supporting measures like promoting public rental housing —very limited in Spain at just 2% of supply— while expressing reservations about certain market regulations.
Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris, strongly asserted that housing must be a political priority, stating, "all European capitals face the same access issues for youth and middle classes" due to high prices. She explained that in Paris housing access is almost impossible without family assistance, and the market has shifted too much toward tourism and speculation. She cited how Paris increased social housing from 13% to 25% over two decades through long‑term policy and sustained public investment —€800 million invested last year alone. "We want to avoid neighborhoods with too much social housing and others with none, to ensure citywide balance," she said, advocating long‑term initiatives.
She highlighted the impact of these policies on everyday life: many families thanked her, saying "with these policies our children have their own room and space to study." She also stressed the private sector’s role and the need for a unified European framework with financial tools—like direct access to cohesion funds—to accelerate projects and guarantee legal certainty for investment. "Working on housing is also economic: the construction sector is in crisis, and without public investment it won't recover," she warned, noting that institutional inaction can fuel populism.
Jaume Collboni, Mayor of Barcelona, supported this vision with strong market data: in ten years, rents have increased 80% —compared to a 50% European average— pushing out not just vulnerable groups but also middle‑class and working families. "We ask ourselves whether only the wealthy should live in the center of our cities," he said, advocating intervention to prevent market exclusion of the majority.
Collboni described an initiative launched with 15 other European mayors—already presented in Brussels and to the Spanish government—to demand a European housing policy with its own commissioner and accessible city funds. "Our response to disenchantment and the rise of the far right is clear: invest in housing," he declared.
On local policies, Collboni defended rent regulation, which lowered prices by 5–6% in 2024 without reducing supply, and limiting tourist rentals, with plans to eliminate them by 2028. "Housing should be for living, not speculating," he asserted, proposing flexibility on the 30% quota for protected housing in consolidated zones while balancing public and private investment in established neighborhoods. He emphasized that “private investment is also supply and should be integrated,” advocating a stable, clear, and secure regulatory framework.
Anne Hidalgo explained how Paris combines social and private housing within the same buildings and regulates rental markets in high‑pressure zones. She called for ambitious regulation benefiting the middle class and warned of thousands of housing units lost each year due to tourist rentals. She emphasized mayors’ proactive role and public‑private collaboration under clear rules and legal certainty.
Both stressed the importance of a metropolitan approach and good public transport connections as essential to expand affordable housing supply. “Effective housing policy also requires fast and accessible mobility across the metro area,” concluded Barcelona’s mayor. Both called for greater city-level action and affirmed that “municipalities are the frontline” in addressing this social, economic, and structural challenge.
Session moderated by Miguel Trias, Board Member of Cercle d’Economia
Jaume Collboni, Mayor of Barcelona
Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris
