“The lack of real estate supply is a problem in many cities, and housing costs have been rising, now occupying a very significant space in the monthly income of European families”, writes the government official. Therefore, “the European Commission must be aware of the problem of shortages and high housing costs”, writes the Prime Minister, according to Expresso.
In the week, the Secretary of State for European Affairs, Tiago Antunes, says that “it is not a question of trying to transfer the solution to another sphere”, as “these are problems that affect other Member States and, therefore, all need a response”.
Last year, in the letter sent to Von der Leyen, the Prime Minister had insisted on the issue of easing deadlines for implementing the Recovery and Resilience Plan, which this year is not on the Government's list of requests to Brussels.
And what do they give the EU in return? Surely, nobody believes the EU does anything for free or acts out of sheer magnanimousness....
Prostituting your country - without asking the taxpayers - while you are sending billions to the Ukraine...yeah, that'll end well.
By Hart from Lisbon on 01 Sep 2023, 15:08
And the begging bowl goes again grovelling for EU funding.... the housing crisis in Portugal is the sole responsibility of a long list of failed governments. None of which did anything to solve the problem nor are they accountable. Whatever for? So much easier to go begging to the EU for more money.
By s from Other on 01 Sep 2023, 17:25
12% of Portugals housing is VACANT.
Banks in Portugal overwhelmingly FAIL to give mortgages and when they do...they are based on the borrowers AGE.
Landlords REFUSE to rent to Portuguese because they want MORE from foreigners.
Houses are allowed to COLLAPSE, literally.
Perhaps Mr. Costa and the Portuguese people need to take a long look in the mirror, before blaming Golden Visa PURCHASERS and asking for E.U. help. Help starts at home.
By Jonathan Wexler from Porto on 01 Sep 2023, 18:42
Ask the EU to solve a home grown problem that has been created by greed, and then blame the EU for not resolving it! Time worn deflection tactic and total abdication of responsibility.
By Stuart Wood from Algarve on 02 Sep 2023, 08:01
Create a law with thresholds that reflexs the hight of the salaries and the rent to be paid! For landlords who invest give them tax incentives in return.
By Lior from Lisbon on 02 Sep 2023, 12:04
Which EU countries that you are aware of don’t have housing issues? It is not just a Portuguese problem. Sitting back and complaining without realistic proposals doesn’t move the needle.
Neither the article nor comments mention the need for housing that is affordable for the citizens that have lived in these countries their entire lives.
By Phil Weingrow from Lisbon on 02 Sep 2023, 12:57
Phil, are you aware of how Portuguese governments have created this problem over decades??? Are you aware of how much corruption there is in the construction field? (for example, how builders use sand instead of cement which then leaves buildings freezing in winters, baking in summers - not to mention the plague of mould). This ridiculous PM is how low and stupid the socialists are. Totally unaccountable for problems they create.
By K from Other on 02 Sep 2023, 18:35
The whole country is being sold at retail to foreigners. The Portuguese can't afford the high rents and mortgages. Low income and high taxes have forced them to leave their own country. It is shameful to ask for help as the governments themselves are the sole responsible for this horrible housing crisis.
By Sarah from UK on 02 Sep 2023, 22:01
What Portugal has a long tradition to live from other countries money. First from the colonies and then straight from the EU. So nothing new
By Tall from Lisbon on 03 Sep 2023, 18:36
What does he expect the EU to do? Send him billions to build alternate housing?
And people blaming this on Golden Visa are lost. The areas of low availability of housing are Euro 500,000 minimum purchase areas. Poor people are not competing for these homes. All canceling the Golden Visa does is eliminate 750 million Euros of investment per year, money that is taxed and used to support housing programs.
This country needs to wake up to its self created issues. It continues to damage itself far more than outsiders do. Electing poor politicians is the largest issue.
Acordar!
By Tiago Suarez from Porto on 04 Sep 2023, 08:11