The Government of Spain reasserts that its priority is to resolve inequality in access to housing

Moncloa Palace, Madrid

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, and the Minister for Housing and Urban Agenda, Isabel Rodríguez, have taken part in the third meeting with representatives of the housing sector. At the press conference afterwards, the minister highlighted the meeting's collaborative and positive atmosphere, in which "a broad representation of Spanish society took part with the intent of responding to the problem of access to housing"

Isabel Rodríguez stressed that the government has a "clear commitment" and that the executive "will not stop until it has solved the housing problem in Spain", where it will "mobilise all the necessary resources and use all the tools necessary to consolidate the right to housing as the fifth pillar of the welfare state".

The meeting, chaired by Pedro Sánchez, took stock of what had been achieved in previous meetings, and it was agreed to set up different working groups so that, in the words of Isabel Rodríguez, "beyond these six-monthly meetings either the balance or the proposals that have been put on the table can be addressed in greater detail and depth".

Pool Moncloa/Fernando Calvo

The minister emphasised the priority given by the President of the Government to the fight against inequality. "There has been a great deal of work done under his presidency to combat inequalities", she stressed, and "today the main cause of these inequalities is access to housing, which is why this is also the priority Mr. Sánchez has as President of the Government of Spain", concluding that "this government has a clear policy, which is not to stop until a solution is found, using all the instruments of the state".

"This meeting has also been very useful for the government", Rodríguez stressed, "to be able to sit at the same table with those who may think differently or have different approaches, but who agree with the objective of guaranteeing the right of access to housing in Spain, such as promoting a public housing stock that protects society forever and responds to those who are currently suffering the consequences of this situation, with all those who can contribute to the solution playing a part". After the meeting held at the headquarters of the Presidency of the Government, the Minister for Housing and Urban Agenda concluded that "it is about sensitivity and care for those who are suffering and the incorporation of all those who can take part in the solution".

In addition to the president and the minister, the executive was represented by the Director of the Office of Economic Affairs and G20, Manuel de la Rocha; the Secretary of State for Housing and Urban Agenda, David Lucas; the Secretary General for National Policy, José Fernández Albertos; and the Secretary General for the Urban Agenda, Housing and Architecture, Iñaqui Carnicero.

The Minister for Housing and Urban Agenda, Isabel Rodríguez, appears before the media at the end of the meeting between the President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, and social organizations and representatives of the housing sector | Pool Moncloa / Jose Manuel Álvarez

The following entities also attended on behalf of the sector: Asociación Española de la Banca (AEB); Asociación de Empresas Constructoras y Concesionarias de Infraestructuras de España (SEOPAN); Asociación Española de Gestores Públicos de Vivienda y Suelo (AVS); Asociación de Gestoras de Vivienda (AGV); Asociación Nacional de Empresas de Rehabilitación y Reforma (ANERR); Asociación de Promotores y Constructores de España (APCE); Confederación de Cámaras de la Propiedad Urbana; Confederación de Cooperativas de Viviendas de España (CONCOVI); Conferencia de Escuelas de Arquitecturas de España; Confederación Española de Cajas de Ahorros y Banca (CECA); CEAV - Confederación Estatal de Asociaciones de Vecinos; Consejo General de la Arquitectura Técnica de España (CGATE); Consejo General del Notariado; Consejo de la Juventud de España; Confederación Nacional de la Construcción (CNC); CCOO; Consejo Superior de Colegios de Arquitectos de España (CSCAE); FACUA; Federación de Cooperativas de Viviendas en Cataluña; Asociación de Gestoras de Vivienda; Fundación Salas; HOGAR SÍ; Observatori Metropolità de l'Habitatge de Barcelona; PAH - Plataforma de Afectadas por la Hipoteca; Plataforma Tercer Sector; Provivienda; Registradores de España; and UGT.

Non official translation