Video: @salvadorilla / X
Calls for EU Action on Housing and Agriculture
Catalan president Salvador Illa is in Brussels today urging the European Union to mobilise all available resources to address the housing emergency and support struggling farmers. Illa, on an official visit, participated in the European Committee of the Regions and held bilateral meetings with European Commission Vice-President Teresa Ribera and European Parliament Agriculture Committee Vice-President Eric Sargiacomo. Illa stressed the need for immediate activation of the EU’s contingency fund and all agricultural support mechanisms. He called for increased funding allocations for crisis reserves within the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which is being renegotiated for the 2028–2034 period. According to government sources, Illa also opposed proposals to merge CAP into a single fund, arguing that regions like Catalonia must retain a key role in designing and managing agricultural support.
Housing and Energy Concerns Raised
During a press briefing, Illa reiterated that the EU must recognise the disproportionate impact of rising energy and gas prices on households and farms, which he attributed to conflicts driven by authoritarian regimes linked to far-right politics. He urged European institutions to prioritise regional voices in shaping industrial policy, particularly in strategic sectors such as fertiliser production. Illa also advocated for co-official languages, Catalan, Basque, and Galician, to be granted official status within EU institutions. He confirmed he raised the issue in all his meetings, calling it essential for linguistic equality.
Political Context and Polling
The visit coincides with the release of the latest Centre d’Estudis d’Opinió (CEO) barometer, published on Wednesday 14 October 2026, which shows the PSC maintaining a clear lead in Catalonia, with ERC and Aliança Catalana contesting second place. Junts has seen a marked decline in projected support for the upcoming 29 November general elections. Illa said the rise of far-right parties is a concern but framed the poll as motivation to continue working. He avoided commenting on internal PSOE dynamics, instead using a football analogy to defend Pedro Sánchez: “If we have to decide who takes a penalty, let the veteran who never misses step up.”
We are here in Europe defending regional interests and demanding that European resources be mobilised to face these crises
Illa reaffirmed that the Catalan government is actively working on a package of support measures for agriculture and housing, but said EU-level intervention is crucial. Farmers’ groups, including JARC-COAC and Unió de Pagesos, have expressed concern that the proposed EU financial framework for 2028–2034 could result in a 20–22% reduction in agricultural funding, according to reports in ARA. The next steps in the CAP negotiations will depend on the final Multiannual Financial Framework, which will set overall EU spending limits. A decision is expected in the coming months.
Primary sources: Centre d'Estudis d'Opinió (CEO). Reported by Regió 7, catalunyapress.cat, ara.cat, Europa Press, elperiodico.cat, El Periódico (CA).
