The fifth round evaluation report on Spain was published together with a compliance report on the fourth evaluation round, acknowledging Spain’s progress in the implementation of GRECO’s recommendations on corruption prevention in respect of parliamentarians, judges, and prosecutors, at the same time also calling for further progress.

The compliance report concluded that, due to steps taken by Parliament to adopt ethical standards and to several novelties aimed at infusing greater transparency and accountability into the judicial system, Spain is no longer subject to a non-compliance procedure. Nevertheless, GRECO expects more forceful action on lobbying regulation and improvements to the appointment system for the General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ) and for top-ranking officials of the judiciary.