The Spanish authorities are tightening control over the short-term rental market in popular resorts such as Mallorca, Menorca, and Ibiza.
The essence of the new rules
The maximum fine for illegal rentals will increase to €500,000, which is 25% more than the previous limit. At the same time, fines will be differentiated: minor violations, such as lack of registration, may result in a warning or a fine of €5,000, while systematic violations, including rentals in protected natural areas or repeat offenses, will be punishable by fines of up to €50,000–500,000.
At the same time, a freeze on new tourist rental licenses is being introduced to stop the uncontrolled growth of supply. The authorities are also offering violators an alternative: if the owner agrees to transfer the apartment or house to the state for five years for use as social housing, the fine can be reduced by 80%.
Why these measures are necessary
The Balearic Islands have been dealing with the effects of mass tourism for a few years now. Because of illegal rentals, housing prices have skyrocketed, and locals are finding it harder and harder to rent apartments in their own towns. In places such as Palma de Mallorca, Ibiza Town, and Ciutadella, residential areas are gradually being transformed into tourist zones, causing protests among the population.
In addition, the uncontrolled flow of vacationers puts a strain on transportation, utilities, and the environment. In response to these problems, the Balearic Islands government is not only tightening penalties but also expanding the powers of inspection authorities. Now, not only municipal services but also the national police, the Guardia Civil, will be involved in enforcement.
Consequences for tourists and property owners
For tourists, the new rules may mean fewer rental options, especially on platforms such as Airbnb and Booking.com, where unlicensed listings are actively removed. It is now extremely important for property owners to check the legal status of their rentals to avoid huge fines.
Will similar measures be introduced in other regions
The experience of the Balearic Islands could set a precedent for other European tourist destinations such as Barcelona, Amsterdam, and Venice, which are also experiencing tourist oversaturation and an affordable housing crisis. If strict rental controls prove effective, other countries and cities may adopt this regulatory model.
Over 2,500 visitors and more than 60 programs: an overview of the Svoe.IT 2025 showroom in Kyiv
On Friday, May 9, the Mystetskyi Arsenal in Kyiv became a gathering place for everyone who creates, develops, and implements Ukrainian technological solutions. The third national showroom of Ukrainian software, Svoe.IT 2025, brought together over 55 Ukrainian developers and more than 2,500 participants from all over the country.
This is not just an exhibition, but a platform for testing solutions in action: CRM and ERP systems, document management software, accounting software, call center software, website and application development, payment services, POS systems, software for the public sector, EDTech solutions, and more.
Event format
Traditionally, the event was held in a showroom format to simplify the process of finding the necessary software for visitors. Guests could “try on” and test programs on site, conduct a full test drive, and get advice on their implementation. Most importantly, they could understand whether a particular software would meet their business needs.
Participants of Svoe.IT 2025 in categories
Payment services, POS systems, software cash registers
IT services
Accounting/management accounting
Reporting and Document Management
AI solutions
Telecom, telephony, and software for call centers
ERP
CRM
Risk monitoring and cyber security solutions
Other
Svoe.IT and Ukraine’s digital sovereignty
This year’s event was dedicated to the topic of Ukraine’s digital sovereignty — the state’s ability to independently control, protect, and develop its own IT infrastructure without critical dependence on foreign technologies.
“Digital sovereignty is not an abstract concept, but a real necessity for Ukraine in the context of war. Svoe.IT demonstrates that we already have our own powerful solutions that can replace foreign or Russian software. When we choose our own, we protect the state, support the economy, and build an independent technological future,” said Nazar Kurochko, CEO of GigaCloud, in his speech.
Nazariy emphasized that high-quality software is not only created in the capital. Khmelnytskyi, Chernivtsi, Kryvyi Rih, Poltava, Dnipro, Uzhhorod, and Ivano-Frankivsk are regions that are full-fledged players in the market. With this in mind, GigaCloud plans to expand the geography of Svoe.IT by organizing regional events to support local developers and strengthen the presence of Ukrainian IT solutions in every corner of the country.
The event also featured panel discussions with business and government representatives. Experts discussed issues related to countering hostile software, integrating AI into domestic developments, what is needed for the development of the technology industry, and practical case studies of solutions for small and medium-sized businesses.
Throughout the event, funds were raised for the needs of soldiers from the 46th separate brigade. Cloud provider GigaCloud launched the fundraiser together with the Tycho Charitable Foundation, and anyone could contribute with a donation. The fundraiser is still ongoing, and anyone who wishes to contribute can do so via this link.
The general partners of the event were IT Ukraine Association and UKRSIBBANK BNP Paribas Group. Diia.City Union and EIT, the Ukrainian hub of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, organized the Tech Ecosystem Stage. Diia.City United organized a chamber event, Diia.City Square, during the event.
The Svoe.IT 2025 showroom demonstrated the existence of competitive Ukrainian developments in various market segments. GigaCloud announced further steps in the development of the project, including regional events, and therefore Svoe.IT remains a platform for the dissemination of domestic technological solutions and discussion of key issues of the country’s digital development.
https://interfax.com.ua/news/press-release/1071171.html
GigaCloud, Payment services, POS systems, software cash registers, Svoe.IT 2025, Назар Курочко
On May 9, Kyivzelenbud, a Kyiv municipal association for green construction and maintenance of green spaces, announced a tender for compulsory motor third-party liability insurance, according to the Prozorro electronic public procurement system.
The expected cost of the insurance services is UAH 339,077 thousand.
The deadline for submitting tender bids is May 17.
INSURANCE, Kyivzelenbud, motor third-party liability insurance
A survey conducted by Active Group in collaboration with the Experts Club think tank showed that most Ukrainians have a neutral attitude toward Laos — 70.7% of respondents chose this option.
A positive attitude was expressed by 10.1% of respondents, of whom 6.5% answered “mostly positive” and another 3.6% “completely positive.” At the same time, 7.5% of respondents expressed a negative opinion — of these, 6.0% chose “mostly negative” and 1.5% “completely negative.” The option “difficult to answer” was chosen by 11.8% of respondents.
According to Pozniy, these results can be explained by the low level of information about Laos in the Ukrainian media.
“For most Ukrainians, Laos is an exotic, little-known country, so a neutral attitude prevails. But against the backdrop of general neutrality, sympathy can also be seen — more than 10% of positive responses,” said Oleksandr Pozniy, co-founder of Active Group.
More than two-thirds of Ukrainians have a neutral attitude toward Laos, which indicates a limited understanding of the country. The positive share corresponds to the average level for lesser-known Asian countries, and the high percentage of those who are undecided indicates potential for cultural rapprochement and information education.
The presentation of the study is available at the link.
ACTIVE GROUP, DIPLOMACY, EXPERTS CLUB, Pozniy, SOCIOLOGY, URAKIN
According to the results of a sociological survey conducted by Active Group and the Experts Club analytical center, Ukrainians’ attitude towards Cambodia is mostly neutral — 71% of respondents chose this option.
A total of 10.7% of respondents have a positive attitude toward Cambodia: 7.3% of them are mostly positive, and 3.4% are completely positive. On the other hand, 7.1% of Ukrainians have a negative attitude, including 6% who are mostly negative and 1.1% who are completely negative. Another 11.2% were unable to determine their attitude.
“Such a high percentage of neutrality indicates that there is no stable image of Cambodia in the mass consciousness of Ukrainians. It is a country that is rarely mentioned in the context of political or economic news, so the emotional background regarding it is minimal,” explains Maksim Urakin, candidate of economic sciences and founder of the Experts Club information and analytical center.
Ukrainians generally do not have a clear idea about Cambodia, which leads to a high level of neutrality. Positive perceptions exist but are not dominant, which opens up opportunities for the development of cultural diplomacy, intergovernmental contacts, and tourism.
The presentation of the study is available at the link.
ACTIVE GROUP, DIPLOMACY, EXPERTS CLUB, Pozniy, SOCIOLOGY, URAKIN
According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), Ukrainians lost more than 3,100 mobile phones in the first quarter of 2025. This is almost 34% less than in the same period last year. In total, almost 20,000 phones were stolen or lost in Ukraine in 2024. Almost 70% of all lost phones are XIAOMI, SAMSUNG, and IPHONE.
3,191 mobile phones have already been stolen and lost in Ukraine since the beginning of 2025. This is almost 34% less than in the same period last year.
Overall, the number of smartphone thefts and losses is decreasing year by year. In 2024, 19,463 phones were stolen or lost, which is 33% less than in 2023.
The largest number of stolen or lost mobile phones this year was recorded in Kyiv — 352 cases (11% of the total). Zaporizhzhia (331 cases) and Kyiv (330 cases) regions accounted for 10% of smartphone thefts. The fewest mobile phones were stolen in the Kherson region (only 4 cases).
For four years in a row, XIAOMI, SAMSUNG, and IPHONE have been the most sought-after brands among thieves. They account for almost 70% of all lost phones this year. In the first quarter of 2025, thieves stole or Ukrainians lost 997 XIAOMI phones, 638 SAMSUNG phones, and 573 IPHONE phones.
It should be noted that the rating of the most sought-after mobile phones, according to the network of household appliances and electronics stores Comfy, is slightly different. Buyers’ preference fell on SAMSUNG, APPLE, and REDMI.
https://opendatabot.ua/analytics/stolen-phones-2024
