52% of Catalans Demand EU Prioritizes Solving Housing Crisis. In Catalonia, most residents believe the EU should focus on the housing issue. Young people support the European project but criticize the performance of its institutions. The survey reveals new priorities and public sentiment.
In Catalonia, housing has for the first time become the top priority that residents expect from the European Union in the coming years. According to recent survey data conducted by the Centre d’Estudis d’Opinió (CEO) and the European Parliament office in Barcelona, 52% of respondents named housing as the key issue for the EU budget in 2028–2034. This figure surpassed topics such as defense, migration, and climate.
The study, timed to the 40th anniversary of Spain's accession to the EU, covered a thousand EU citizens living in Catalonia. The results show that European identity in the region is strengthening, especially among young people. In the 18–24 age group, 65% of respondents consider themselves very or fairly pro-European, which is 29 points higher than a year earlier. Across Catalonia as a whole, this figure stands at 58%.
Criticism of EU institutions
However, the growth in support for the European project is accompanied by increased criticism of EU institutions. Only 37% of Catalonia’s residents positively assess the work of European bodies, while 90% are convinced that the region's voice is barely heard in Brussels. According to European Parliament Vice-President Javi López, negative assessments are linked, among other things, to the EU’s reaction to the conflict in Gaza and the situation in the Middle East. He also noted that the new geopolitical context, including the possible return of Donald Trump to the White House, is fueling the call for “more Europe” among Catalans.
Security and integration
Security issues and joint actions in the context of international tensions also remain relevant. 82% of respondents support the idea of a common security and defense policy for EU countries, although only a quarter favor increased spending on these purposes. 89% believe that the European Union should respond with a united front to threats against the territorial integrity of member states. Moreover, 62% of respondents consider it important for EU countries to be part of NATO. Support for sanctions against Russia and EU actions regarding Ukraine also remains high—74% and 67%, respectively.
Housing — the main challenge
The housing issue in Catalonia is becoming not only a social problem, but also a political topic of European scale. As access to apartments and houses decreases and prices continue to rise, residents of the region demand concrete solutions from the EU. Similar sentiments are being observed in other regions of Spain: earlier members of parliament discussed the failure to extend rental agreements in Congress, which caused a stir among tenants and politicians.
The CEO and European Parliament survey was conducted from March 23 to April 13, 2026, through telephone interviews. It involved residents of Catalonia holding citizenship of EU countries. The results of the study highlight: despite a growing European identity, local residents expect not only symbolic support from Brussels, but real steps to address pressing issues—above all, in the housing sector.
