Barcelona
Top court backs restrictions on tourist flat licences for popular holiday region of Spain
SPAIN’S Constitutional Court has rejected moves to scrap a proposed new law restricting tourist apartment licenses in Catalunya.
The measure is now set to be approved by the regional parliament this month.
50 deputies from the Conservative Partido Popular(PP) launched a legal challenge to the legislation last month.
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The PP alleged that it will be an invasion of state powers and that it violates equality and legal certainty.
The court ruled that the 2023 decree passed by the Catalan government ‘does not violate’ constitutional protections for private property, local autonomy, or judicial rights.
The proposed law aims to reduce the number of tourist apartments in areas with housing shortages.
The court said that ‘the possibility of using a property for tourism is not an essential part of property ownership’.
The law- once passed- would limit the number of tourist rental licenses to 10 per 100 residents and requires a permit for any property used for tourism.
It applies to municipalities facing housing difficulties or where there is a high concentration of tourist rentals.
These 262 municipalities must update their lists as the measure would remove perpetual permits and demands a renewal every five years.
The court explained that the law is needed to protect urban environments and ensure long-term housing availability.
It also clarified that municipalities’ autonomy in urban planning is important and said the law respects local decision-making, ‘guaranteeing local authorities a level of intervention that is strongly linked to their interests over tourist home rentals’.
Barcelona
These Are The Three ‘happiest’ Beaches In Spain, According To Bizarre ‘facial Recognition’ Study – Olive Press News Spain
A NEW study analysing 100 beaches worldwide suggests that Spain is home to the happiest beach on the planet.
London-based travel agency CV Villas used AWS facial recognition technology to scan thousands of Instagram photos, determining which beaches had the most smiles – an unusual but intriguing method of ranking the world’s most joyful coastlines.
Spain dominates the podium, with two of its beaches ranking among the top three.
READ MORE: Must visit: The five best beaches in Mallorca for 2025
Taking the top spot is Sitges Beach, located just 40 km from Barcelona.
With a near-perfect ‘beach happiness score’ of 98.42, it’s no surprise this vibrant coastal destination leads the ranking.
Known for its golden sand, scenic palm-lined promenade, and lively mix of restaurants and bars, Sitges is a favourite among both locals and tourists.
Its appeal extends beyond just the beach – Sitges is an ideal day-trip from Barcelona, just a 40-minute drive away, and boasts 300 days of sunshine a year.
The second ‘happiest’ beach in Spain is Port de Soller, located on the picturesque northwest coast of Mallorca.
It ranks third worldwide, behind Praia da Falesia in Albufeira, Portugal.
Meanwhile, Cala Pregonda, a secluded gem on the north coast of Menorca, takes 11th place globally.
Famous for its reddish-golden sand and crystal-clear waters, it rounds out Spain’s top three most joyful beaches.
While Spain boasts two of the top three spots, Portugal also shines, with five beaches making the Top 30.
However, Greece takes the crown for the most appearances, with eight entries in the ranking.
The UK also makes a surprise impact, with Wales and Scotland featuring in the Top 30.
Rhossili Bay and Caswell Bay in Wales achieved impressive fourth and fifth places, while Troon Beach, Scotland, secured 26th place.
Europe’s overwhelming presence in the ranking – 24 out of the Top 30 – suggests that when it comes to beachside happiness, the continent has plenty to smile about.
Barcelona
Blow for squatters in Barcelona: Court rules cutting power and water to occupied homes is NOT a crime
PROPERTY owners in Barcelona who stop paying utility bills for squatted homes will no longer be committing a criminal offense.
Barcelona’s Provincial Court made the ruling during a meeting held on March 7, and it was publicly announced this week by the Catalonia High Court of Justice (TSJC).
The decision establishes that such actions do not constitute a ‘crime of coercion’, regardless of whether the property was vacant before it was occupied.
READ MORE: Outrage in Tenerife after squatters seize house of 87-year-old woman while she was in hospital
“If the owner of a property (whether owned or otherwise) that has been occupied or invaded, fails to maintain the connection or payment of utilities, this will not constitute a crime of coercion,” the judges said in a statement.
The ruling extends to any ‘property holder,’ including individuals or entities with any legal right to use the property.
Another key aspect is that authorities must identify squatters before dismissing a complaint.
Property owners often file complaints without knowing who has occupied their housing, making it difficult to prosecute cases.
They are often temporarily closed while police investigate and identify the occupants.
Under the new Barcelona ruling, cases of minor offenses related to unlawful occupation – where a vacant property is occupied without force – must remain open until the police can confirm the identities of those involved.
Judges have also agreed that once a trial date is set, a case can no longer expire due to procedural delays.
The backlog in Barcelona’s court system has led to cases being dismissed due to prolonged waiting times.
Further clarifications in the ruling include that unlawful occupation cases will only qualify for expedited trials if violence was involved.
Meanwhile, home invasion cases – where a property is occupied while still in use – will be handled by criminal courts.
These clarifications aim to create consistency in how courts handle such cases.
According to Spain’s Ministry of Interior, offenses related to property invasion and unlawful occupation in Catalonia increased by 12% last year, reaching 7,009 cases.
This accounts for 40% of all occupation-related cases in Spain. Nationwide, reports increased by 7% to a total of 16,426 cases.
While this latest ruling sets a legal precedent, judges will still assess cases individually before issuing verdicts.
Barcelona
Young Woman Wins ‘right To Die’ Case Following First Euthanasia Law Challenge In Spain – Olive Press News Spain
A BARCELONA court says a 24-year-old paraplegic woman can end her life following a legal challenge by her father and the Christian Lawyers group.
The matter though is not at end as Christian Lawyers have already made it clear that if they lost, they would appeal to Catalunya’s High Court.
Noelia C suffers from ‘serious dependency, chronic and disabling pain, as well as suffering’.
READ MORE:
- Father goes to court to stop daughter ending her life in landmark challenge to Spain’s euthanasia law
- Spain’s Constitutional Court votes to uphold euthanasia law
The judge said the requirements under Spain’s euthanasia law had been met, including an evaluation of Noelia by the CGAC- an independent Catalan body that ensures she is of sound mind to make a decision and meets the criteria.
The CGAC gave the green light in July 2024 for euthanasia to go ahead, but her father went to court to stop the process.
In the first trial of its kind in Spain held on March 4, Noelia reiterated her wish to die and that she wanted a ‘dignified death’.
At the hearing, seven doctors and experts who interviewed her during the evaluation process, confirmed their conclusions that we was fully entitled to go through with euthanasia.
After a suicide attempt in October 2022, Noelia was confined to a wheelchair and, according to the conclusions of the CGAC, she had a non-recoverable clinical situation’ that had an impact on her independence and daily life- a category covered for by the euthanasia law.
The Prosecutor’s Office also backed her stance after the process had been decided in a ‘firm, free and autonomous’ way.
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