Commission Executive Vice-President Stéphane Séjourné has signalled that Spain's new single register of leases and digital one-stop shop for short-term rentals may conflict with EU law, but stressed that no breach has occurred yet as the relevant regulation does not apply until 20 May 2026. The answer, given on behalf of the European Commission, comes in response to a parliamentary question from MEPs Borja Giménez Larraz and Elena Nevado del Campo, both from the centre-right European People's Party (PPE).
The MEPs had accused the Spanish government of acting unilaterally and with undue haste by adopting Royal Decree 1312/2024 in late 2024, which establishes a single registration procedure for short-term rental accommodation. They argued that this duplicates existing registers managed by Spain's autonomous communities, creates legal uncertainty, and usurps regional competences, all while citing the need to implement Regulation (EU) 2024/1028 (the Short-Term Rental Regulation) before its entry into force.
Séjourné confirmed that the Commission has raised concerns with Spanish authorities about a potential conflict between the registration procedure set out in the Royal Decree and those already in place at the local level. Article 4 of the STR Regulation stipulates that a rental unit shall not be subject to more than one registration procedure. However, the Commissioner noted that until 20 May 2026, the existence of multiple registration procedures does not constitute a breach of the Regulation. The Commission continues to monitor developments.
Policy orientation and expected follow-up The answer reflects a cautious, wait-and-see approach from the Commission. It acknowledges the MEPs' concerns but refrains from taking immediate action, instead signalling that compliance will be assessed after the regulation enters into force. This suggests that the Commission expects Spain to align its national legislation with EU rules by the deadline, but is not currently pursuing infringement proceedings. The answer contains no concrete proposals, numerical targets, or new structures, but rather a declarative commitment to monitor the situation. Institutional follow-up is likely to occur after May 2026, when the Commission could launch a formal dialogue or infringement procedure if the conflict persists.
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