The forum, a joint initiative by Bankoa ABANCA, CaixaBank, the Basque College of Economists, the Basque Government, the Basque Financial Institute, Kutxabank, LABORAL Kutxa, and Rural Kutxa, brought together professionals to analyze the housing situation.
Speakers included Julen Bollain Urbieta, economist, professor, and researcher at Mondragon Unibertsitatea; Ana Telleria Echeverria, Director of Neighborhood Regeneration and Urban Agenda for the Basque Government; and Pedro Ayestaran, Director of Inmobiliaria Orio and a member of the ASCONGI Board of Directors.
The experts agreed that the housing problem stems from multiple factors and that addressing it requires considering social realities and the specific characteristics of each territory.
Julen Bollaín emphasized that housing access difficulties directly affect both youth emancipation and the economy overall. "Today's rents or mortgages reduce disposable income, impacting consumption, savings, and future plans. Ultimately, housing is not just a place to live, but also the material foundation upon which young people develop their family projects, career decisions, and personal autonomy," he stated.
From the real estate sector's perspective, Pedro Ayestaran noted that the market situation is not uniform across Euskadi, with particular difficulties in capitals and coastal municipalities where demand is most concentrated. "Housing demand has increased, while supply grows more slowly, a situation that is driving up prices in the most strained areas," he said.
Ana Tellería, meanwhile, explained that the administration is employing various tools to tackle this challenge: “We have a toolbox, and we must use all the instruments available. It is equally important to reclaim industrial land for new housing construction as it is to rehabilitate and make our neighborhoods more accessible so people do not feel the need to leave their lifelong homes and communities.”
The discussion took place as a roundtable, aiming to explore the topic from diverse viewpoints, moderated by journalist Nerea Reparaz. A small reception followed, facilitating opinion exchange and network consolidation among participants.
The next ETEKIN economic encounter is scheduled for October 14th in Bilbao, focusing on the digital euro.
