Sant: L-Unjoni Ewropea trid timpenja ruħha li ssaħħaħ il-provvista fis-suq tad-djar

Fl-intervent tiegħu matul dibattitu plenarju fuq Rapport tal-Parlament Ewropew dwar il-ħtieġa ta’ akkomodazzjoni diċenti għal kulħadd, il-Kap tad-Delegazzjoni Maltija tal-S&D Alfred Sant innota li l-kriżi tal-housing ilha għaddejja s-snin. B’riżultat ta’ politika dwar il-housing li tħalli s-suq jsuq b’intervent minimu mill-Gvern, kif ukoll minħabba l-konsegwenzi tal-kriżi finanzjarja tal-2008, is-sitwazzjoni kompliet taggrava.

Filwaqt li aktar nies qed ikollhom jonfqu sa 40% jew aktar tad-dħul disponibbli tagħhom fuq l-akkomodazzjoni, iż-żgħażagħ qed ikollhom jibqgħu mal-ġenituri tagħhom għal perjodi itwal ta’ żmien mill-imgħoddi minħabba li ma jifilħux għall-ispejjeż tal-kiri. L-akkomodazzjoni diċenti hija sfida morali u politika Ewropea li l-UE trid taffaċċja b’azzjoni soda, saħaq Sant.

Matul l-aħħar 13-il sena, il-prezzijiet tad-djar żdiedu b’ritmu mgħaġġel f’24 pajjiż tal-UE, filwaqt li l-kirjiet żdiedu bl-istess ritmu f’26 pajjiż tal-UE. Il-prezz meħtieġ biex tixtri dar fl-Unjoni Ewropea żdied bħala medja b’37% bejn l-2010 u l-2021, u l-prezz tal-kirjiet żdied bi 17%. Għal din ir-raġuni, aktar Ewropej bħalissa qed jaffaċċjaw kriżi biex isibu post diċenti fejn jgħixu. Id-dibattitu Ewropew iffokka fuq kif l-akkomodazzjoni diċenti għandha tifforma parti mill-ġid komuni biex is-soċjetà kollha kemm hi tgawdi minnu u kif l-UE għandha tiżviluppa strateġija integrata għal akkomodazzjoni li n-nies kapaċi tħallas għaliha.

Alfred Sant sostna li l-policies Ewropej għandhom iqisu l-impatt tat-turiżmu Ewropew – minħabba żieda fin-numru ta’ postijiet ta’ akkomodazzjoni għall-vaganzi – li qed jikkontribwixxi biex jonqsu l-postijiet offruti għall-kiri bi prezz raġonevoli u għal żieda fil-prezzijiet tal-kirjiet. “Jeħtieġ li r-regoli Ewropej dwar l-għajnuna mill-istat ikunu inqas riġidi ma’ proġetti ta’ akkomodazzjoni soċjali”, huwa propona.

L-istati Ewropej għandhom jevalwaw mill-ġdid u jerġgħu jsaħħu l-policies nazzjonali tagħhom dwar l-akkomodazzjoni. Sant saħaq li għandha tittieħed azzjoni wkoll fuq livell Ewropew. “L-Unjoni Ewropea trid turi impenn politiku qawwi biex issaħħaħ il-provvista fis-suq tal-housing “, huwa saħaq.

---

Sant: The European Union must commit to strengthening the supply side of the housing market

In his contribution to a plenary debate on a European Parliament Report about the need of decent housing for all, Head of the Maltese Delegation to the S&D Alfred Sant noted that the housing crisis has been worsening for years. As a result of laissez-faire housing policies and the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis the situation has been on a downward spiral. 

While more people are having to spend up to 40% or more of their disposable income on accommodation, youths are being compelled to remain with their parents for longer periods than previously due to unaffordable rental costs. Decent housing is a European moral and political challenge which the EU must face up to with robust action, Sant emphasized.

Over the past 13 years, house prices have increased fast in 24 EU countries, while rent has done the same in 26 EU countries. House purchase prices in the European Union increased by 37% between 2010 and 2021, and rents went up by 17%. For this reason, more Europeans are currently facing a housing crisis. The main thrust of the European debate revolved around how decent housing should become a social good and how the European Union should develop an integrated strategy for affordable housing.

Alfred Sant argued that European policies should take into account the impact of European tourism – given the spread of holiday accommodation platforms – that is contributing to a decline in the availability of affordable housing and a rise of rental prices. “Loosening the Union’s state aid rules applicable to social housing projects needs to be considered”, he opined.

European nations must reassess and repower their national housing policies. Sant emphasized that action should also be taken at a European level. “The European Union must demonstrate a strong political commitment to strengthening the supply side of the housing market”, he stressed.