Brussels presented a regulation proposal to establish common rules in the European Union on local accommodation, in an attempt to ease pressure on the housing market. The European Commission wants to harmonize the way Member States treat platforms like Airbnb, creating a uniform legal framework for the entire bloc.
The document does not provide for a general prohibition of local accommodation, recognizing the economic importance of this sector. Instead, the proposal establishes clear criteria that define under what circumstances public authorities can adopt restrictive measures against this type of activity.
National, regional and local authorities may implement restrictions when they demonstrate specific grounds, such as housing shortages, high prices or negative impact on local communities. The proposal aims to balance the economic benefits of tourism with the need to ensure affordable housing for residents.
The measure comes in a context of growing concern about access to housing in various European capitals, where the increase in local accommodation has been associated with rising real estate prices and the decrease in supply for permanent residents.
