Bulgaria recorded the highest housing price increase in Europe, 14% or more over the last year.

Omissions

• Eurostat's most recent reading (Q2 2026) places Portugal first (+16.5%), followed by Bulgaria (+15.5%) and Lithuania (+14.3%) — Bulgaria is second, not first, so the 'champion of Europe' framing is inaccurate for the latest period.
• Bulgaria also ranked second (not first) in the EU for annual house-price growth in the first quarter of 2025, according to Eurostat.
• The claim conflates a correct magnitude (double-digit growth, above 14%) with an incorrect ranking (first place).
• The most recent data (Q2 2026, published 1 October 2026) was available to the MEP before the session date of 7 October 2026.

Sources

• PrimaryEurostat — Statistics Explained: Housing price statistics (house price index)The highest increase was recorded in Portugal (+16.5%), followed by Bulgaria (+15.5%) and Lithuania (+14.3%). / In Q2 2026, house prices in the EU rose by 4.7%, while rents increased by 3.0% compared with Q2 2025.
• SecondarySofia GlobeBulgaria had the second-highest annual increase in house prices in the European Union in the second quarter of 2026, rising by 15.5 per cent compared with the second quarter of 2025.
• SecondaryBulgarian National Radio (BNR) English serviceBulgaria recorded the second-highest annual house price growth in the European Union in the first quarter of 2025, according to Eurostat.
• SecondarySofia Globe (2015-Q3 2025 cumulative prices)House prices in Bulgaria increased by 156 per cent between 2015 and the third quarter of 2025, according to data posted by the European Union statistics agency Eurostat.