The Government of Catalonia has submitted proposals to the draft Royal Decree of Spain on the extraordinary legalization of migrants, proposing to take into account the study of the Catalan language at the first renewal of the annual residence permit.
According to the initiative, those granted an initial permit will have about a year to start learning, and it is planned to take into account “language progress” when applying for renewal. As proof, it is proposed to accept the completion of courses organized by the authorities of Catalonia, or independent training, confirmed by a certificate.
At the same time, as sources in the Spanish government emphasize, the requirement of knowledge of Catalan or Spanish language is not expected to obtain a primary permit within the framework of legalization. The question of renewal is the responsibility of the autonomous communities and may be based on the integration report of the social services, where among the factors may be taken into account and training in official languages.
According to the Statistical Institute of Catalonia (IDESCAT), on January 1, 2024, there were 1,444,192 people with foreign nationality living in Catalonia, corresponding to 18.0% of the region’s population. The largest groups of foreigners included citizens of Morocco (241,179), Colombia (94,196) and Italy (86,822). There were 44,101 Ukrainians and 33,317 citizens of the Russian Federation. More recent data on the number of foreigners will be released in mid-2026.
As reported by Serbian Economist, the average price of 1 square meter of housing in new buildings in Montenegro in the IV quarter of 2025 amounted to 2 206 euros, which is 14% higher than the level of the IV quarter of 2024 (1 936 euros), according to data from MONSTAT.
The growth was uneven by region. On the coast, the average price reached EUR 2,570 per sqm (approximately +24% y/y), in Podgorica – EUR 2,141 (+10%), in the central region – EUR 1,363 (growth from a low base, approximately +46%), while the northern region did not record new building sales in Q4 2025.
The dynamics during 2025 were in waves: the national average price was €2,158 in Q1, €2,201 in Q2, €2,228 in Q3 and €2,206 in Q4, meaning that after peaking in the summer, the figure fell slightly towards the end of the year.
MONSTAT separately emphasizes that the average price is strongly influenced by the share of so-called solidarity housing (housing sold under the preferential model). In the fourth quarter of 2025, in the category “enterprises” (market sales), the average price in the country was 2,415 euros per square meter, while in solidarity housing – 705 euros.
From the point of view of “Serbian Economist”, the key conclusion for 2025 is as follows: the market of new buildings in Montenegro remains “two-speed” – the coast continues to rise in price faster due to tourist demand and limited supply in prime locations, while the capital and inland regions are more dependent on the structure of transactions and availability of credit. The Financial Stability Board at the Central Bank of Montenegro also warned about the risks of overheating amid active lending and rising prices at the end of 2025.
In 2026, the pressure on prices is likely to continue, but the pace may become more “selective” in terms of locations and quality of projects: the priority will be objects with clear documents, ready infrastructure and rental potential, while the mass segment is more sensitive to household incomes and financing conditions.
https://t.me/relocationrs/2311
Finland has announced that it will allocate €72 million in humanitarian aid, of which €20 million will go to Ukraine, according to the Finnish government’s website.
“A total of €20 million in humanitarian aid will be allocated to Ukraine from the budget item ‘Support for Ukraine’. The aid will be provided through UN humanitarian organizations and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC),” the statement said.
The organizations will, in particular, respond to people’s winter needs and heating requirements by distributing, among other things, heaters, fuel, clothing, and cash assistance, as well as helping to repair houses, water, electricity, and heating systems damaged during the attacks.
Finland will allocate EUR6 million to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), EUR6 million to the World Food Programme (WFP), EUR 5 million to the ICRC, and EUR 3 million to the Ukraine Assistance Basket Fund of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), from which funds will be distributed at the local level according to needs.
“Russian attacks are making it much more difficult for people living in the midst of war to survive in winter conditions in Ukraine. Supporting access to energy and heat is particularly important now, as the need for humanitarian support is acute. Our increased assistance is helping people with basic needs. Finland supports Ukraine,” said Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio.
In its humanitarian aid decisions for the beginning of the year, Finland, in addition to Ukraine, emphasizes the main areas of conflict and refugee crises in Africa, as well as the humanitarian situation in the Middle East.
Moderate wet snow and rain are expected in Ukraine on Tuesday, February 24, with light precipitation in the northern and eastern regions at night.
According to the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center, there will be sleet and wet snow in some places in the Carpathians and in the northeast of the country. There will be icy conditions on the country’s roads, except in the south and southeast.
The wind will be westerly and southwesterly, 5-10 m/s.
The temperature at night and during the day will range from 2° below zero to 3° above zero (at night in the east of the country 0-5° below zero, during the day in Transcarpathia and in the south 3-8° above zero).
In Kyiv on February 24, there will be light wet snow and rain. Roads will be icy. The wind will be mainly westerly, 5-10 m/s. The temperature at night will be around 0°, and during the day 1-3° above zero.
According to data from the Boris Sreznevsky Central Geophysical Observatory, for the entire period of meteorological observations, the highest daytime temperature in Kyiv on February 24 was 15.8°C in 1990, and the lowest nighttime temperature was -20.7°C in 1888.
On Wednesday, February 25, Ukraine is expected to see light wet snow and rain, with moderate precipitation in the far south, at night and in the east of the country, and in some places wet snow and ice. At night and in the morning, there will be fog in most central and southern regions. On the roads of the country, except for the south, there will be icy patches in places.
The wind will be mainly northwesterly, 5-10 m/s.
The temperature at night and during the day will range from 2° below zero to 3° above zero, and during the day in Transcarpathia and in the southern part, it will be 1-6° above zero.
In Kyiv on February 25, there will be light wet snow and rain. There will be icy patches on the roads in some places. The wind will be northwesterly, 5-10 m/s. The temperature at night and during the day will be around 0°.
Since the beginning of this year — during the energy crisis — Kyiv has received a total of more than 840 generators of various capacities — from 5 kW to 900 kW — from partners and donors from various countries, the capital’s mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Saturday.
He said on Telegram that one of the generators, which was handed over to Kyiv on Saturday by Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, will be used in one of the lyceums in the central part of the city. The generator has already been delivered to the educational institution.
In total, Paris has sent eight 112 kW generators to Kyiv. Four power sources have already arrived in the city. Four more are expected in the coming days, Klitschko wrote.
According to the mayor, in April 2022, Paris and Kyiv signed a Friendship and Cooperation Agreement, and since the start of the full-scale war, the mayor’s office of the French capital has been sending various humanitarian aid to Kyiv, including generators and other necessary equipment.
The Export Credit Agency (ECA) supported exports worth UAH 5.21 billion in January 2026, according to the agency’s website.
The largest amounts of support in cooperation with partner banks were provided by Raiffeisen Bank (UAH 4.61 billion in supported exports), PrivatBank (UAH 281.83 million), and Oschadbank (UAH 143.47 million).
The largest volume of supported exports was provided by enterprises in the Khmelnytskyi region (UAH 4.61 billion), Chernihiv region — UAH 281.83 million, Zaporizhzhia region — UAH 130.84 million, and Odesa region — UAH 119.81 million.
The main importers of Ukrainian products in January were: Germany (UAH 589.11 million), Bulgaria, Denmark, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, and Sweden (UAH 576.48 million each), Moldova (UAH 281.83 million), France (UAH 130.84 million), and Slovakia (UAH 49.79 million).
In terms of sectoral structure, the largest share was accounted for by furniture and related products, ferrous metal products, paper and cardboard products, food products, as well as ships and floating vessels.
The Export Credit Agency of Ukraine (ECA) is a state institution that supports non-commodity exports by insuring the risks of enterprises and banks. The agency insures foreign economic contracts, export credits, bank guarantees, and investment credits against military risks.
