Calviño observes "good disposition" of the banking system to seek measures in support of mortgage debtors

MADRID, 7 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The first vice president and minister of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation, Nadia Calviño, has observed a "good disposition" of the banking system to find a solution to support families with difficulties in paying mortgages, as indicated at the press conference after reporting of updating the protocol for financial inclusion in the banking sector.

Specifically, Calviño has recalled that in the coming weeks he will work with banks due to the growing financial burden of mortgage debtors in the face of the normalization of monetary policy and the consequent rise in interest rates.

"I must say that we have seen a constructive attitude and a good disposition of the employers of the sector to find a solution as soon as possible and to be able to continue in this line in which we are from the Government, which is to relieve and support the whole of the Spanish population in the particular context generated by high inflation", stated the First Vice President.

Calviño explained that he is currently identifying where vulnerability can be found and what could be the "most effective" instrument to prevent this situation from becoming "a risk", although he stressed that "at the moment, there is a situation of very low delinquency in the mortgage market".

Likewise, he recalled that there is a "wide catalog" of measures to alleviate the situation of these debtors, such as changing the mortgage from a variable rate to a fixed rate, the renegotiation of payment conditions, the establishment of moratoriums, the extension of the period refund, dation in payment, etc., although he stressed that the revision of this catalog of measures is being studied with the entities.

For her part, the president of the AEB, Alejandra Kindelán, has indicated that the current situation is "very different" from that of 2012, when there was an economy in recession, with "sharp" falls in employment and housing prices , and "heavily indebted" families and businesses. "Today we have a growing economy, with employment levels that are holding up well and house prices that have only risen in recent years," she said.

For his part, the general director of CECA, José María Méndez, has indicated that delinquency in mortgage loans stands at 2.6%, a "very, very low" level. "Perhaps the perimeter of the vulnerable group must be defined differently," Méndez exemplified.

Regarding the Financial Client Authority, whose draft was approved last April, Calviño has reported that the consultation process is currently being concluded to take it to the Council of Ministers. In this regard, he has reported that the report of the General Council of the Judiciary and other studies, such as that of the Economic and Social Council, are missing. In addition, he has indicated that, subsequently, he will go to the Council of State.

"We are accelerating the deadlines as much as possible", affirmed the vice-president, who has reiterated her will to approve it "as soon as possible". As for the parliamentary processing of it, Calviño hopes that it will be "very agile" due to the "social importance" of this new authority.