Ane Barcos-Aquí Europa
The third meeting between the European Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders, as mediator; The Minister of Justice, Félix Bolaños, and the PP negotiator, Esteban González Pons, concluded yesterday without an agreement on the renewal of the General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ) but with some “progress”, which is why they have met again to a fourth meeting in Madrid.
The three parties managed to “move forward” but were unable to reach a definitive agreement, according to Reynders at the end of the meeting in Brussels. “It is difficult, but possible,” said the Justice Commissioner, who has summoned the negotiators in Madrid for a fourth meeting. Although the exact date has not yet been finalized, it will be before the end of March, since this is the period that Reynders would have if his candidacy to occupy the leadership of the Council of Europe is successful.
Bolaños underlined the complexity of the agreement and its importance for the normalization of the judicial system “at all levels, from the General Council of the Judiciary to the last judge.” Furthermore, he highlighted the progress represented by the dialogue between the parties, recalling that the Popular Party had remained outside the negotiating table for a year and a half.
“Let us remember that we have spent a year and a half in which the Popular Party has not sat down at the table,” said the Minister of Justice, defining the dialogue between the parties as progress. Thus, he urged to continue with the exchanges of positions to advance an agreement that would benefit the country and strengthen justice in Spain. He emphasized that the renewal of the CGPJ is a legal and constitutional obligation that cannot be subject to conditions.
In a somewhat more pessimistic tone, González Pons lamented the stagnation of positions, alleging that the PP was seeking “a reform of the judicial model that ensures the independence of judges.” “Without that, we will not move forward,” he warned. “The Government logically, on the eve of the Amnesty Law, is not willing to take that step forward in favor of judicial independence,” criticized the Deputy Secretary of Institutional Action of the PP.
Despite the differences, both parties will continue to dialogue in the hope of finding common ground that will ensure judicial independence in Spain. During the first conversations between the three politicians, which took place on January 31, the commissioner indicated that the Spanish have a deadline of two months to agree on how to carry out the renewal of the CGPJ. This decision is based on the fact that, at the end of March, Reynders will cease to exercise his current functions as Commissioner for Justice in the European Commission and will begin his campaign for the General Secretariat of the Council of Europe.
