On Monday and Tuesday, 20-21 April, Energy and Housing Commissioner Dan Jørgensen was in Madrid and Barcelona to discuss energy security, affordability and ways to tackle the housing crisis with Spanish national and local authorities, as well as sectorial stakeholders and young people.
As part of his country visit, Commissioner Jørgensen met with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and the third Vice-President of the Government and Minister for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, Sara Aagesen, in Madrid on Tuesday. On the same day, following his participation to the ESADE Annual Energy Meeting, dedicated to affordable, secure, and clean energy for Europe, he also delivered a keynote speech at the WindEurope Annual Event 2026. In Barcelona on Monday, the Commissioner visited Fusion for Energy (F4E), the Barcelona-based EU organisation responsible for Europe’s contribution to ITER, the largest fusion energy experiment in the world.
Spain marks the third stop of the Commissioner’s European Affordable Housing Tour, following Austria and Portugal. In Madrid, Commissioner Jørgensen held a bilateral meeting with the Minister for Housing and Urban Agenda, Isabel Rodríguez. In Barcelona on Monday, he discussed housing policies with the President of the Regional Government of Catalunya, Salvador Illa, and the Mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni. Following their meeting, Commissioner Jørgensen and Mayor Collboni held a joint press point that you can follow on EbS. The Commission is advancing work on the Affordable Housing Act that will provide a European framework to tackle the negative impacts of short-term rentals and promote housing affordability in areas under housing stress across the EU.
In Barcelona, the Commissioner also chaired a Youth Dialogue on Housing, which will give young people from a variety of backgrounds the possibility to exchange on the pressing housing problems they are facing, as solutions moving ahead.
Audiovisual coverage of the country visit is available on EBS.
