In 2024, 46% of the laws approved in Spain are based on European directives and decisions

Of the 24 laws passed in Spain in 2024, 5 implement European regulations or transpose European directives into Spanish law and another 6 contain references to EU recommendations, programmes or initiatives.

Among the regulations approved to transpose European directives and implement European regulations are those related to equal representation in listed companies, the exchange of information on criminal records and the application of a tax on multinationals.

According to the report published annually by the European Parliament Office in Spain, 46% of the laws approved by the Spanish Parliament in 2024 originate from European institutions.

This year, the Congress of Deputies and the Senate have approved a total of 24 laws. Of these, 11 laws regulate aspects that respect the line set by the European Union institutions, i.e. they derive from Community directives or regulations or are framed within the regulatory umbrella established by the European institutions.

Of these 11 regulations of European origin, 5 transpose European directives into Spanish law or adapt or develop aspects of European regulations.

These are the Directives on family and professional reconciliation; equal representation of women and men in listed companies; exchange of information on criminal records and the consideration of judicial decisions in the European Union; the application of a tax on multinationals; and the European regulation establishing a single market for digital services (DSA Regulation).

The other 6 laws adopted in 2024 contain references to or are based on European provisions, i.e. they respect the line taken by the EU institutions, even if they do not directly respond to a transposition mandate.

Stable figures over five years

In this first year of the 15th legislature, although slightly downward, the levels of influence of decisions adopted in the European Union have remained the same as in the previous legislature.

During the previous five years, the weight of European decisions was reflected in 53% of the regulations adopted in Spain, including those that included the transposition of the Directive on the impact of plastics, tax cooperation in the EU, Audiovisual Communication Services and the single railway area for the EU.

Transpositions in non-legislative legislation

Another 20 regulations approved by the Council of Ministers in 2024 also transpose European directives or have been adapted to regulations. These are Royal Decrees which, as they do not have the status of law, do not require a parliamentary procedure in Parliament.

Most of them transpose directives related to the Common Agricultural Policy or Fisheries and, to a lesser extent, to transport, health or working conditions. These include the Royal Decree establishing a new form of laissez-passer based on the provisional EU travel document; the Royal Decree increasing the protection of workers from exposure to carcinogens in the workplace; the Royal Decree approving the Statute of the Independent Whistleblower Protection Authority to protect people who report irregularities within public or private organisations; and the Royal Decree laying down the rules for entry, residence and work in Spain for seasonal workers, highly qualified workers, researchers, trainees and third-country nationals.

87 directives pending transposition

As of today, according to data from December 2024 from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, Spain has 87 European directives pending transposition, most of them with a transposition deadline of 2024, 2025 and 2026. Of these, 31 have already met their transposition deadline.

Among the directives approved in 2024 are the air quality directive, which establishes stricter limits on the emission of pollutants into the atmosphere; the directive that strengthens the fight against human trafficking, including new forms of exploitation, such as surrogate motherhood, illegal adoption and forced marriage; and the directive that, for the first time, establishes a supranational framework to combat violence against women and domestic violence throughout the EU.

84 regulations directly applicable in Spain

Furthermore, in 2024, 84 European regulations have been approved that are directly applicable in all member states and, therefore, already form part of Spanish law.

Among them, the regulation that prohibits products made with forced labour in member states, the one that establishes common data registration standards for tourist rentals in the EU, or the one that approves the first regulatory framework for the use of Artificial Intelligence in the EU.

More information European Parliament.