Spain slammed for dragging its ft on corruption crackdown: EU watchdog blasts ‘unsatisfactory’ progress
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Spain has come underneath hearth from the Council of Europe’s high anti-corruption physique for failing to wash up its act – regardless of years of warnings and mounting stress to get severe about political integrity.
In a damning follow-up report printed this week, the Group of States in opposition to Corruption (GRECO) strongly criticised the Spanish authorities for leaving key anti-corruption reforms ‘pending’, accusing Pedro Sánchez’s administration of not complying with the watchdog’s long-standing suggestions.
Nineteen strikes and also you’re nonetheless out
Again in June 2024, GRECO issued 19 suggestions as a part of its fifth-round analysis to spice up transparency and curb corruption in Spain. Quick ahead to April 2025, and never one has been totally applied. Not even partially. The group’s verdict? ‘Unsatisfactory.’
Specifically, the report takes goal at the present authorities’s failure to introduce long-promised laws to control lobbying and interactions between MPs and third events making an attempt to affect legal guidelines behind closed doorways.
Spain’s lobbying legislation nonetheless in limbo
GRECO has repeatedly urged Spain to usher in clear guidelines governing how lobbyists work together with lawmakers. Whereas some measures to enhance transparency in Parliament have been adopted over time, a full legislation on lobbying stays nowhere to be seen.
Worse nonetheless, GRECO notes ‘giant discrepancies’ in how MPs deal with transparency guidelines. Regardless of being legally obliged to publish their official agendas – together with conferences with lobbyists – lower than 10% of MPs truly achieve this, in keeping with a 2023 report by Parliament’s personal Workplace of Conflicts of Curiosity.
And because the unique report got here out in 2024? Not a lot has modified, in keeping with the EU watchdog. The 2025 follow-up report has reminded lawmakers of their obligation to reveal conferences with particular curiosity teams. However Spain, says GRECO, has didn’t report ‘any new developments’ or progress.
Police and Guardia Civil left uncovered?
It’s not simply Parliament getting warmth.
GRECO additionally slammed Spain’s high safety forces – the Policía Nacional and the Guardia Civil – for failing to undertake anti-corruption methods. Again in 2024, the watchdog beneficial each forces perform a full danger evaluation of corruption-prone areas and actions and put collectively integrity plans. These plans are nonetheless MIA.
The Guardia Civil ‘is engaged on it,’ GRECO acknowledges, however once more, no precise anti-corruption plan has been rolled out. Nonetheless, it’s not all bleak. The Council of Europe did welcome experiences of ‘good cooperation’ between the inner affairs models of each police forces. However relating to motion, GRECO’s endurance is clearly sporting skinny. Issues appear to be transferring very slowly.
A well mannered however pointed slap on the wrist
In usually diplomatic tones, GRECO urged Spanish authorities to take ‘extra decided motion.’ However the subtext is evident: Spain has been dragging its heels for too lengthy.
With belief in political establishments already fraying on the edges, the message from Europe is unmistakable – when it involves cleansing up politics, Spain has acquired to cease speaking the speak and begin strolling the stroll.
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