“There was a broad discussion on the issue of local accommodation, the issue, in essence, of a market that has to regulate itself (…) or adapt to the needs of the population”, said the minister of Portuguese housing.

Marina Gonçalves indicated that “there is a common position” among European ministers – who responded to a proposal presented by the German minister – on the “need to have this discussion with the European Commission”.

In the minister's opinion, “it is essential that this debate is carried out at the European level”, in order to find “measures that are common and that also allow, in a more effective way, to balance” the housing sector.

Stressing that the continuity of local accommodation is “not in question”, Marina Gonçalves said that the debate will revolve around what to do in places where this sector “causes greater pressure”, and can “be regulated and adapted to housing needs, prioritising housing needs”.

In the Gijón Declaration, published on the official website of the Spanish presidency of the EU, which is ongoing until the end of the year, the government advocates “a global strategy in places where impediments have arisen, due to phenomena such as short-term rental, to maintain the capacity to develop spaces and equipment suitable for an affordable housing policy”.

Marina Gonçalves also mentioned that the Portuguese example, with the registration of investment in housing in the Recovery and Resilience Plan, was mentioned in the meeting, which also discussed sources of financing, highlighting "the need" to continue investment in public housing.