Ane Barcos-Aquí Europa
The European Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders, has warned that the amnesty law procedure must be suspended until the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) rules on its compatibility with European legislation.
In a communication addressed to the president of the Legal Affairs Committee of the European Parliament, Adrián Vázquez, Brussels clarified that the amnesty law must be suspended until the European justice system rules on the preliminary ruling.
The European Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders, responded on behalf of the European Commission to the query made by Adrián Vázquez. The document confirms that, when a preliminary ruling is submitted, the national court is obliged to suspend its proceedings until the Court of Justice of the European Union issues its response. This principle prevails over any provision of national legislation.
The Commission placed special emphasis on Article 23 of the Statute of the Court of Justice of the European Union, which clearly establishes that the submission of a request for a preliminary ruling entails the suspension of the national procedure until the Court of Justice rules on the matter.
The amnesty law should therefore be stopped until the Court of Justice has ruled on the request for a preliminary ruling. Brussels also stressed that the national court must reject any national regulations that contravene this principle.
After the publication of Reynders’ response, Adrián Vázquez added that the amnesty law represents a fundamental fight in defense of the rule of law. “The law of impunity is a battle against the rule of law. Between those who want to subdue him to remain in power and those of us who believe in democratic values. They will not get away with this,” the MEP emphasized.
