On Tuesday, the mayor of Lisbon noted that the government presented important housing measures on Monday, ensuring that the municipality can help the central state in tackling the housing scourge.
“We have some very important measures in the housing sector where we are in distress. Today we need to have multiple solutions to solve the housing problem. […]Lisbon has proven its capabilities and we can help the central state even more,” said Carlos Moedas.
The mayor spoke to journalists on the sidelines of the opening of the second contactless clinic of the municipal project “Lisbon + Health”, located in Alta de Lisbon.
On Monday, the government at an extraordinary meeting of the Council of Ministers approved the creation of a legal regime for the “semi-automatic entry of vacant state property” onto the market, for housing construction or other related projects, which will be carried out jointly with municipalities.
In addition, he also approved proposals to change the rules of local residence (AL) included by the previous leader in the Mais Habitação program, such as the abolition of the emergency contribution and the transfer of the regulation of activities in their territories to the municipalities.
Carlos Moedas acknowledged that there are “many buildings that are empty” and that the Lisbon City Council “can rebuild” as it works to address the housing shortage.
“Housing for us is 560 million euros under this PRR program. [Plano de Recuperação e Resiliência] and this is an investment like never before,” the mayor recalled.
According to Carlos Moedas, housing measures that “give a predominant role to municipal councils are always welcome.”
“And I think there are a few people here who are really welcome. The issue of local accommodation is an issue where councils can have an idea of where local housing can be and where it cannot be,” he stressed.
Carlos Moedas also recalled that in Lisbon he tried to take charge of this issue, but then the previous government (PS) wanted to “give itself guidelines” and, in fact, “command something completely local and that this should be done by local authorities, and I think that in this sense we are moving in the right direction.”
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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