Brussels warns of Spain’s delay in its anti-corruption strategy

Ane Barcos In its 2025 Rule of Law Report, published this Tuesday, the European Commission notes that Spain has made partial progress in areas such as the renewal of the General Council of the Judiciary, the reform of the statute of the Attorney General, and the regulation of lobbying. However, it emphasizes that significant challenges remain, such as the need to complete the reform of the judicial appointment system, the lack of a national anti-corruption strategy, the low level of enforcement of foreign bribery, and the lack of progress in access to public information and media transparency. In the chapter dedicated to Spain in the 2025 Rule of Law Report, the European Commission recalls that "the Government is required by law to adopt a comprehensive strategy to prevent and combat corruption, but work on it has not yet begun." The document notes that more resources have been provided to the Prosecutor's Office with the aim of reducing the duration of investigations and prosecutions for high-level corruption, and that the revision of the Code of Criminal Procedure is ongoing. However, Brussels warns that the level of enforcement of foreign bribery remains low. Regarding institutional cooperation, the EU executive notes that it remains good, and that the efficiency of the Transparency and Good Governance Council has improved, although limitations related to available resources persist. The report also refers to the bill submitted to Parliament to regulate lobbying activities, which includes measures to strengthen the independence and powers of the Conflicts of Interest Office. However, it notes that "no further measures have been taken to improve the rules on conflicts of interest for public employees in the various administrations." It also welcomes the steps taken to strengthen the rules on asset declarations by senior officials, but warns that the Office remains integrated into the government structure and its sanctioning powers have not been expanded. In the judicial sphere, the Commission highlights the renewal of the General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ) as a milestone, following the structured dialogue held with the Spanish authorities in 2024, as well as the implementation of measures to adapt the system for appointing judicial members to European standards. According to the report, the new Council has resumed appointments to senior positions in the judicial career. In parallel, the report notes that measures have been adopted or are being processed to modify the statute of the Attorney General. These include a legislative project that contemplates the separation of the Attorney General's mandate from that of the Government, the establishment of a single, non-renewable, five-year term, and the obligation to make public communications with the Executive. This text is currently under consultation with national bodies. According to the Commission, "some sectors have expressed critical opinions about the reform," and the General Council of the Judiciary has warned that the draft "does not fully guarantee safeguards of independence or internal controls." Brussels also highlights that new measures have been approved regarding incompatibilities for judges and prosecutors, such as the establishment of a mandatory waiting period for returning to the judiciary after holding political office. A new law on the right to a defense has been adopted, and guarantees for the legal aid system have been strengthened. Efforts to advance the digitalization of justice continue, although the report warns that challenges related to the resources of the judicial system remain. The length of proceedings, particularly in the Supreme Court, continues to be an issue highlighted by Brussels, although new regulations aimed at improving this situation have been approved. Regarding media pluralism, the Commission reports that the audiovisual regulator is preparing to take on new oversight functions. It also mentions the reform of the law regulating RTVE, which modifies the composition of the Board of Directors and strengthens the powers of its president. However, it warns that "transparency in the ownership of media other than audiovisual services remains a concern," and recalls that the future Digital Services and Media Law provides for the creation of a public registry, the approval of which is still pending. The legal framework on institutional advertising has also not been reformed, despite the increase in the number of campaigns. The report also notes that "there has been no further progress in strengthening access to information," and that the announced new legislation remains unpassed. Although various legislative initiatives have been launched, Brussels notes that journalists continue to face difficulties regarding their working conditions and safety. The Commission includes a reference to the Constitutional Court ruling that declared the Amnesty Law "compatible with the Constitution," as well as to the preliminary rulings already submitted to the Court of Justice of the European Union. The document includes references to other measures adopted in the area of the rule of law, such as the creation of a new equality body, the appointment of officials to various independent authorities, and the proposed reform of the Citizen Security Law to address issues already highlighted in previous reports by various national and international actors.

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