Contro l’occupazione abusiva a Barcellona

La Corte Provinciale di Barcellona ha cambiato posizione in merito all’occupazione abusiva e ora considera che “interrompere o rifiutarsi di pagare le utenze per gli occupanti abusivi che hanno preso possesso di un immobile con la forza non costituisce reato di coercizione”. I giudici hanno anche chiarito che è necessario “verificare che le condizioni che originariamente giustificavano la misura siano ancora valide”, facendo riferimento al Real Decreto-legge 11/2020 e al Real Decreto-legge 1/2025, che prorogano la sospensione straordinaria degli sfratti per le persone ‘vulnerabili’.

Tuttavia, questo cambiamento si applica solo in circostanze specifiche. Innanzitutto, le misure riguardano solo i casi in cui l’occupazione è avvenuta con la forza—non si applicano, quindi, agli inquilini morosi (in quel caso, interrompere le utenze costituirebbe ancora coercizione). In secondo luogo, deve essere dimostrato che gli occupanti non si trovano in una situazione di vulnerabilità o che il loro comportamento costituisce un vero abuso. Infine, questa decisione vale solo per Barcellona e Girona, poiché il resto della Spagna non ha ancora adottato questo nuovo orientamento giuridico.

I tribunali stanno discutendo sull’interpretazione della legge e sulla realtà vissuta dai cittadini. Se da un lato è vero che alcuni casi di occupazione derivano da necessità, dall’altro è altrettanto vero che i legittimi proprietari spesso si sentono abbandonati. Per questo motivo è stata presa la decisione di tutelare i proprietari da chi sfrutta le falle normative (fraus legis) per approfittarsi di leggi nate per proteggere persone davvero vulnerabili. Potrebbe essere l’inizio della fine per le politiche governative anti-sfratto. Solo il tempo dirà se questo approccio si estenderà anche ad altri tribunali spagnoli.

This newsletter provides a selection of regulatory news and comments from our SPANISH legal experts on interesting policy developments, recent case law, and new regulatory directions of major industry practices. The aim is to provide an up-to-date tool for quick and easy consultation on the most current and important topics at a SPANISH level.

Tariffs on European wine imports in the U.S. market were set to rise by up to 200%, according to announcements from the White House. Some local farmers welcomed the news, believing it would boost demand for American products, while others opposed possible policies due to poor harvests caused by wildfires, droughts, and other crop damage.[1]

To put things in perspective, the 2025 OIVE Economic Report shows that the U.S. increased its wine imports to 1.226 billion liters, valued at $6.789 billion. Nearly 5.5% of U.S. imports (67.3 million liters) come from Spain. Notably, December 2024 saw the sharpest surge in imports due to uncertainty over potential tariffs.[2]

Major wine exporters like Spain, France, and Italy have pressured Brussels to prevent the U.S. from imposing these tariffs at all costs. Ultimately, the European Commission excluded bourbon from its list of products facing a 25% tariff, averting the 200% increase on the other side of the Atlantic.[3] The historic alliance is now forced to negotiate and ease tensions fueled by threats from one side and retaliatory measures from the other. However, on the global stage, the EU –and Spain in particular– has begun moving closer to the U.S.’s current rival, China, to diversify export partnerships and bypass U.S. tariffs.[4] As the European Commission's vicepresident Kaja Kallas warned: "Only China will benefit from a transatlantic trade war".

[1]      CNN Business, article by Samantha Delouya https://edition.cnn.com/2025/03/22/economy/tariff-eu-trade-war-california-wine/index.html

[2]      Interprofesional del Vino https://interprofesionaldelvino.es/informe-de-importaciones-de-vino-en-eeuu/

[3]      El Economista, article by Lidia Montes https://www.eleconomista.es/economia/noticias/13308014/04/25/bruselas-apunta-al-maiz-el-calzado-y-los-muebles-en-su-respuesta-arancelaria-a-trump.html

[4]      El Economista https://www.eleconomista.es/economia/noticias/13307985/04/25/se-afianza-la-relacion-entre-xi-jinping-y-sanchez-en-plena-guerra-arancelaria-china-pone-a-espana-a-la-vanguardia-de-sus-vinculos-europeos.html

This newsletter provides a selection of regulatory news and comments from our SPANISH legal experts on interesting policy developments, recent case law, and new regulatory directions of major industry practices. The aim is to provide an up-to-date tool for quick and easy consultation on the most current and important topics at a SPANISH level.

1. Legal news on foreign investments

On September 1, 2023, Royal Decree 571/2023, of July 4, concerning foreign investments (the "Royal Decree"), came into effect, repealing Royal Decree 664/1999 and further developing the provisions of Law 19/2003, of July 4, on the legal framework for capital movements and economic transactions with foreign countries (the "Law 19/2003").

The Royal Decree establishes mechanisms for controlling foreign investments. Articles 14 to 17 of the Royal Decree introduce a prior administrative authorization regime for certain foreign investments, particularly in strategic sectors of Spain. This control is grounded in Article 7 bis of Law 19/2003.

The Royal Decree also introduces new provisions regarding intragroup financing. This refers to loans or capital injections between companies within the same corporate group when one of the parties is foreign.

1.1 Requirements and obligations

The concept of investment has been expanded as follows:

• Foreign investments in Spain: When a foreign company finances a Spanish entity or branch.
• Spanish investments abroad: When a Spanish company finances a nonresident company within the same group.

Declaration Requirements:

1. Amount exceeding €1,000,000.
2. Amortization period exceeding one calendar year.

Declaration Obligation:

Intragroup financing transactions meeting the aforementioned criteria must be declared to the Investment Registry of the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry.

Who is responsible for the declaration?

• The non-resident company if it finances a Spanish entity.
• The resident company if it finances a foreign entity.

2. New technical and functional specifications for electronic billing systems

Order HAC/1177/2024, published in the Official State Gazette (BOE), sets forth the technical, functional, and content specifications that electronic and computer systems used for billing by entrepreneurs and professionals must comply with. Its primary objective is to ensure that these systems adhere to the security and transparency standards established in Royal Decree 1007/2023 and Royal Decree 1619/2012.

2.1 Main objective of the Order

The goal is to prevent electronic systems from enabling the manipulation or concealment of accounting, billing, or management data, ensuring that records are:

• Intact: Without unauthorized modifications.
• Preserved: Accessible for consultation.
• Readable: In standard formats that can be interpreted by the Administration.
• Traceable: With the ability to track the history of each record.
• Unaltered: Free from interpolations or undocumented omissions.

2.2 New tax obligations and legal context

The electronic systems must guarantee these characteristics and be duly certified. Invoices generated will include a QR code and, in some cases, a phrase identifying their validity.

This order is based on the new formal tax obligation set forth in Article 29.2.j) of the General Tax Law, which requires manufacturers, marketers, and users of these systems to comply with the necessary security and functionality requirements.

In summary, this order regulates and standardizes billing systems to prevent tax fraud and improve data control by the Administration.