EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders met with Spanish Justice Minister Félix Bolaños in Brussels on Wednesday in a last attempt to mediate between the ruling Socialist Party and Partido Popular, the main opposition, to bring about the renewal of the judges’ governing body, which has been operating on an interim basis for over five years.

In an attempt to calm the tension between both parties, Reynders met Bolaños and the Deputy Secretary for Institutional Action of the Popular Party, Esteban González Pons, in Brussels to promote a dialogue that could unlock the renewal of the General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ), the governing body of judges in Spain, Euractiv’s partner EFE reported.

The EU Commission’s objective is to provide a roadmap so that both parties can reach an agreement within a maximum period of two months before the European Parliament elections in June. However, Reynders hoped the agreement would be reached before the deadline.

“What is going to change now is that we have proposed a structured dialogue that I will carry out on behalf of the European Commission, and this is the occasion to see if this dialogue with the authorities and the political formations in Spain can lead to an improvement in the situation”, Reynders stated.

The institution has been operating on an interim basis, with very limited powers, which seriously affects the normal functioning of the judicial system in Spain.

Accusations and reproaches

The Commissioner agreed to mediate between the two parties, whose agreement is essential for the CGPJ to renew its internal governance, following a request made by Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez (PSOE/S&D), who previously reached an agreement with PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo.

The PSOE and the PP have been accusing each other of being responsible for the paralysis of the renewal of the top governing body of judges.

The government has repeatedly urged the PP to comply with the Spanish Constitution (of 1978) and has asked them not to make excuses and to allow the renewal of the judges’ governing body, but the PP argues that – in parallel to this renewal – the law of the CGPJ should be changed, which, according to Feijóo, would guarantee full judicial independence in Spain.

On Wednesday, PP spokesman Borja Sémper assured that his party is willing to ‘start negotiations from scratch’ with the PSOE to “reach a good conclusion” to renew the CGPJ.

However, he also doubts whether the PSOE has a real will to move forward.

A ‘draw of lots’ among judges

Faced with the deadlock in the judges’ governing body, the Hay Derecho Foundation proposed on Wednesday a mechanism for a draw of lots between candidates who meet the legal requirements to be able to form part of a renewed CGPJ.

In a statement, the foundation stressed that organising a lottery would allow the judges’ governing body to be renewed “without the exchange of political favours” and ensure the suitability and independence of the judges appointed without the need to reform the CGPJ law.

(Fernando Heller | EuroEFE.Euractiv.es)

Read more with Euractiv

Swedish PM will discuss NATO bid with Orbán

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said he will “definitely” have the opportunity to talk to his Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orbán to discuss Sweden’s NATO bid on the sidelines of the EU summit in Brussels, where much is expected of Hungary’s turbulent leader.