Politics · Spain · 4 hrs ago
FEDEA says Spain fell short on EU-backed housing, pension and education reforms
FEDEA says Spain fell short on three reforms promised to the EU in return for recovery funds: housing, pensions and education.
The assessment says housing has become less affordable, with home-sale prices rising and a shortage of homes approaching one million.
It also says rent limits coincided with fewer listings in Barcelona province and Catalonia, while listings rose in Madrid.
On pensions, FEDEA says the reform protects pension values but leaves long-term funding unresolved as spending is projected to rise from about 13% of GDP to 16%–17% by mid-century.
The assessment also says the education reform has fallen short, but gives no details about its results in the available text.
The EU may examine additional housing measures to see whether they reverse steps already accepted by Brussels, which could lead to a loss of funds.
A report by Spanish think tank FEDEA says the government fell short on housing, pension and education reforms promised to the European Union in return for recovery funds.
The report says access to housing has worsened, with rising purchase prices, fewer rental listings in some areas and a persistent shortage of homes.
It says the pension reform protects purchasing power but does not secure long-term financing.
FEDEA also warns that additional housing decrees could conflict with measures previously accepted by Brussels and might lead to the loss of EU funds.
- Who
- FEDEA, whose report was written by Ángel de la Fuente, Judith Arnal and Juan Pablo Riesgo. The report assesses reforms by the Spanish government.
- What
- FEDEA says Spain fell short on EU-backed housing, pension and education reforms.
- When
- The report was published on October 27, 2026, and updated on October 28.
- Where
- Spain.
- Why
- The reforms were commitments made to the European Union in return for recovery funds.
FEDEA report
Spanish government
Assessment of reforms
FEDEA report
FEDEA says the government fell short on reforms promised to the EU.
Spanish government
The government says it has achieved results from the reforms, according to the article.
Housing
FEDEA report
FEDEA says access has worsened and that rent limits have reduced the number of listings in some areas.
Spanish government
The article does not detail the government’s position on housing.
Pensions
FEDEA report
FEDEA says the reform does not resolve long-term financing.
Spanish government
The article does not detail the government’s position on pension financing.
Spain passed the Housing Law, described in the report as a commitment to the EU.
Rental listings fell by 22.2% in Barcelona province and 20.5% in Catalonia, while they rose by 3.9% in Madrid.
Home purchase prices in Spain rose 12.1% year on year, compared with 4.7% across the EU.
El Mundo published its report on FEDEA’s assessment.
- Report authors
- Ángel de la Fuente, Judith Arnal and Juan Pablo Riesgo
- Spanish home prices
- Up 12.1% year on year in the second quarter of 2026
- Barcelona province rental listings
- Down 22.2% between the first quarter of 2024 and the fourth quarter of 2025
- Youth emancipation age
- 30.2 years in Spain in 2025, compared with 26.3 years in the EU
- Projected pension spending
- From around 13% of GDP to 16%–17% by mid-century
What people are saying
Access has worsened, both in buying and renting.
There are growing imbalances still to be addressed.
The pension reform guarantees the purchasing power of pensions, but does not resolve their long-term financing.