Spain’s Congress rejected the government’s emergency decree to regulate lobbyists on September 16, 2026. PP, Vox, Junts and UPN led the opposition, with 179 deputies voting against the decree, 155 in favor and 12 abstaining, RTVE reports. The defeat blocks Madrid from meeting European Union requirements tied to transparency and accountability.
The vote scrapped the government’s regulation, approved just weeks earlier in August, halting the creation of a formal lobbyist registry and disrupting Spain’s timeline for meeting EU-mandated reforms. Newtral notes that the decree had already established a mandatory state register for interest groups, aiming to resolve a reform that had stalled for years. RTVE reports that failure to pass the regulation puts approximately €1.5 billion in European funding linked to transparency and accountability commitments at risk.
Congress, by contrast, strongly backed a separate decree for Ceuta. Vox was the only party to oppose it, while Junts abstained. The measure passed with 304 votes in favor, 33 against and 7 abstentions, unlocking €309 million for the city for the rest of the year. The funds are earmarked for humanitarian aid for minors, security, and direct support for businesses and workers. RTVE reports that the breakdown includes €118 million for minors and humanitarian needs, €90 million for security, and €80 million for business and labor support.
The failed lobbyist decree would have defined what counts as a lobby group, introduced a “regulatory footprint” report to track its influence on lawmaking, and established a sanctions system. Minister Óscar López said the government’s summer push responded to delays in the broader bill, first introduced in 2025. In less than a month, the now-canceled registry had received more than 300 registration requests and over 3,000 queries. Democrata and Newtral identify clear definitions, the regulatory footprint and sanctions as the decree’s basic innovations.
The Ceuta decree, led by Vice President and Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo, was described as impressive to restoring normality in the city. A dedicated €36.6 million fund will provide direct grants of €5,000 for self-employed people and between €10,000 and €150,000 for companies, with the tax agency managing the program. As of this week, 633 applications had been received, and payments are expected to start on October 6.
Democrata reports that the government resorted to an accelerated decree in August 2026 after more than a year of parliamentary deadlock on the broader transparency bill, which remains pending in Congress. Other measures include €14 million to support small retailers and tourism, a consumption voucher scheme, and labor relief: full exemptions for companies forced to suspend activity, extra benefits for self-employed workers, and a 0.5% rate for deferred social security payments. Permanent changes will also affect Melilla, raising the indefinite hiring bonus from 50% to 75%, increasing corporate tax breaks for resident entities from 50% to 60%, and easing expense deductions for the self-employed.
The rejection leaves the government facing possible delays or complications in accessing EU recovery funds. EFE and Infobae report that the government itself acknowledged, even two days before the vote, that support for the reform was uncertain.
