In full crisis by the ‘Koldo Case’, The European Commission has given this Tuesday A touch of attention to Spain for the lack of advances in the fight against corruption In your annual report on The rule of lawin which the Amnesty Law and take note of the imputation of the State Attorney Generalwithout going to value them.
The Perception of corruption in Spain It has increased significantly in the last five years. This is collected by the report that according to that according to a 2025 Eurobarometer, 89% of respondents considered that corruption is “very widespread”, Well above the European average that is 69%. In addition, 51% of respondents consider them to personally affect them.
Brussels points to that “It has not yet started working in the National Anti -Corruption Strategy,” which was foreseen by law by September 2024. The Commission emphasizes that “according to interested parties, despite the inclusion of anti -corruption priorities in sectoral plans and strategies, The absence of a unified strategy runs the risk of driving to fragmentation and insufficient supervision of anti -corruption measures ”.
Among your recommendations, The commission asks “to redouble efforts” to expedite and accelerate “research and prosecutions”, particularly in Corruption cases “high level”. In this sense, it points to the need to finish the Reform of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
Conflicts of interest
In its report, the Commission also suggests that although efforts have been made to address cases of foreign bribes, “There are still lagoons in the legislative framework.” It also considers that The level of application is still low.
Brussels recognizes that There have been advances in the reinforcement of the norms regulating conflicts of interest of people who perform functions “High level”. However, “no new steps have been taken to improve the rules on conflicts of interest in public employees of the different administrations ”.
In addition the commission Ask Spain to strengthen legislation on lobbies. In fact, it points out that although “the dissemination requirements for parliamentarians are mostly met, Only a few publish information about meetings with interest groups ”.
In your report, the Commission identifies Public hiring, financing of political parties, infrastructure projectsand public service contracts as high -risk sectors for corruption. It is precisely these areas that are under suspicion in the ‘Koldo Case’.
Fiscal general
On the other hand, the Commission Consider a “progress” the reform of the Organic Statute of the Fiscal Ministry what disconnect the mandate of the Attorney General of the Government who appointed him. In fact, this was one of the recommendations that the community executive had made in the past.
In addition, it highlights how “the draft law intends Improve the transparency of government relations and the Attorney General, establishing that communications between the latter and the government will be public and in writing. ”At the same time, Brussels collects in any case the concern of some associations that this reform“ supposes A risk for the independence of justice when reinforcing the powers of the attorney general and lowering the professional guarantees of the prosecutors ”, although it does not enter to value.
Regarding the imputation of Álvaro García Ortiz, The commission is limited to verifying that “The attorney general is subject to ongoing judicial procedures.” He adds that he has been charged “for the alleged filtration of confidential information related to a case of fiscal fraud”, and that he has submitted a resource.
Amnesty
Even though a few weeks ago The commission position will be leaked In view of the EU Court of Justice for the amnesty, Brussels does not enter to value the law in its report on the rule of law. Includes a reference in a section dedicated to “Other issues related to” controls and balances “.
The commission is limited to Make note of the decision of the Constitutional Court which declares the law compatible with the text, and the requests of preliminary decision that European Justice will examine on July 15. “The commission has been evaluating the relevance of the amnesty law from the perspective of EU right,” says the report, without entering the result, still objective of the judicial process.
CGPJ
The Community Executive It also gives almost closed the reform of the General Council of the Judiciary, which required the mediation of the Community Executive, with the inauguration of its members. The report also highlights that a woman is for the first time, Isabel Perelló, who is in charge of the organism.
“The prolonged lack of renovation of the CGPJ had a negative impact on the work of the judicial system As a whole, ”acknowledges the commission in its report. The agreement reached“ has significantly improved the situation. ” Brussels claims in any case Continue advancing to complete the process.
Independence
The report also includes the complaints of the judges for the lack of remuneration, the latest judicial reforms, and the criticisms of politicians and members of the government. “According to European norms, although criticizing judicial decisions is a normal aspect of democratic discourse, executive and legislative powers They should avoid criticisms that undermine independence Or the trust of citizens in the Judiciary, the commission warns.
The report points in this regard to the poor perception of judicial independence in Spain between citizens and companies. That perception It is only good or very good for 39% among the population, and 40% among companies. Although it is a slight increase over the previous year, in reality Spain is among the countries of the tail in this area.
