A New Region in Spain Without Business Restrictions?
Spain ranks third in the EU with the most business restrictions, trailing only France and Austria.
Moreover, in some regions, the situation is even worse. On the interactive map created by El Pais, you can see where restrictions on business hours, in-store advertising, regional or municipal licenses, and special taxes for large companies are applied. This shows that entrepreneurs in Madrid and Ceuta enjoy greater commercial freedom, while those in Catalonia, Asturias, and Valencia face significantly more barriers.
Just recently, Economy Minister Carlos Body announced that the government plans to create a unified market without differences in administrative requirements between regions and local jurisdictions. There’s even a proposal to introduce a "Regime 18" or establish a virtual 18th autonomous community where companies can obtain licenses flexibly and with fewer bureaucratic hurdles.