Key facts
- The European Commission will recommend that Spain and Hungary implement stronger anti-corruption and transparency reforms.
- Spain is criticized for limited progress on conflict-of-interest rules and asset declaration requirements for public officials.
- Hungary faces criticism for a lack of progress in judicial transparency and structured pay raises for legal professionals.
- The Commission calls for improved enforcement of existing rules in Spain and the adoption of new lobbying legislation.
- The report highlights Hungary's need for comprehensive legislation on lobbying and 'revolving door' practices.
The European Commission is preparing to release its annual Rule of Law report, which will urge Spain and Hungary to accelerate reforms aimed at bolstering judicial independence, transparency, and anti-corruption measures. According to a partial review seen by POLITICO, the EU's executive arm will express concern over Spain's limited progress in tightening conflict-of-interest rules and asset declaration requirements for senior public officials. Despite Madrid's tabling of a draft Public Integrity Law and adoption of a State Anti-Corruption Plan, the Commission noted that the practical implementation of existing rules has not improved and called for stronger enforcement, including an independent supervisory body with effective powers.
The report also addresses Spain's lobbying reforms, stating that draft legislation to increase transparency around lobbying activities has yet to be approved by parliament. The Commission is urging Spain to finalize this legislation, which includes establishing a mandatory public register of lobbyists.
Hungary is also slated for criticism in the report. The Commission found no progress in making the allocation of cases in lower courts more transparent and no further advancements in ensuring structured pay raises for judges, prosecutors, and court staff. Furthermore, the report highlights the absence of new lobbying and 'revolving door' rules, prompting a call for Budapest to adopt comprehensive legislation to strengthen its integrity framework.
These findings come at a time when Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar has pledged to restore the rule of law and mend Hungary's relationship with the EU. While the Commission acknowledged some progress in areas such as asset declaration systems and measures affecting civil society, it indicated that significant shortcomings persist and urged the new government to continue pursuing judicial and anti-corruption reforms.
The report's release is scheduled for Friday. This development follows a recent ruling by a Spanish court that civil servants had improperly created a public-sector job for Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s brother, David Sánchez. The Prime Minister has previously asserted that he and his family have been targeted by politically motivated legal proceedings, accusing conservative judges of engaging in 'lawfare'.