The European Commission has called out Spain for limited progress in its fight against high-level corruption, urging Madrid to toughen conflict-of-interest rules and accelerate long-stalled reforms. In its 2026 Rule of Law report released Thursday, Brussels acknowledged some headway but said challenges persist, noting that a vast majority of Spaniards view corruption as widespread in the country.
The executive urged Spain to revise its criminal procedure code to reduce delays in high-level graft cases and pressed for further separation of the attorney general's mandate from the government. It also flagged concern over politicians publicly criticizing judicial rulings, saying such statements erode trust in the courts.
A pending lobby transparency law, approved by the cabinet in January 2025, remains stuck in parliament. Brussels recommended a mandatory public lobbyist registry and renewed its call to reform the appointment system for judges on the General Council of the Judiciary, saying the selection should align with European standards. The commission favored judges choosing their own governing council members.