Spain slammed for dragging its toes on corruption crackdown: EU watchdog blasts ‘unsatisfactory’ progress
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Spain has come underneath fireplace from the Council of Europe’s high anti-corruption physique for failing to scrub up its act – regardless of years of warnings and mounting strain to get critical about political integrity.
In a damning follow-up report revealed this week, the Group of States towards 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 absolutely applied. Not even partially. The group’s verdict? ‘Unsatisfactory.’
Particularly, the report takes purpose at the present authorities’s failure to introduce long-promised laws to manage lobbying and interactions between MPs and third events attempting to affect legal guidelines behind closed doorways.
Spain’s lobbying regulation nonetheless in limbo
GRECO has repeatedly urged Spain to herald clear guidelines governing how lobbyists work together with lawmakers. Whereas some measures to enhance transparency in Parliament have been adopted over time, a full regulation on lobbying stays nowhere to be seen.
Worse nonetheless, GRECO notes ‘massive 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 accomplish that, based on a 2023 report by Parliament’s personal Workplace of Conflicts of Curiosity.
And for the reason that unique report got here out in 2024? Not a lot has modified, based on 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 really helpful each forces perform a full threat 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 stories of ‘good cooperation’ between the inner affairs items of each police forces. However with regards 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 sometimes 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 bought to cease speaking the discuss and begin strolling the stroll.
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