Calls for a clear legal structure to regulate lobbying in Spain have intensified following the investigation of former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero for alleged influence peddling in the Plus Ultra airline case. The Association of Professionals of Institutional Relations (APRI), which represents lobbyists, has sent urgent letters to parliamentary leaders, warning that delays in passing a dedicated law are blurring the line between legitimate lobbying and illegal influence.
APRI’s appeal follows the suspension of the parliamentary committee responsible for drafting the new regulation. The association describes the move as another setback in a process already years behind schedule. APRI president Carlos Parry says the absence of clear rules is making the situation unsustainable, blurring the line between lawful participation in public decision-making and conduct that should be prevented or sanctioned.
The debate over where to draw that line has flared again with Zapatero’s case, though concerns about transparency in relations between lobbyists and lawmakers have surfaced repeatedly in recent years. The Office of Conflict of Interests of the Spanish Parliament has warned about persistent opacity for five consecutive years. Previous cases, including the investigation of PSOE’s Santos Cerdán, have also highlighted the need for reform. In 2025, Izquierda Unida and Sumar cited a GRECO report that stressed the urgency of a lobbying law and criticized political resistance to such measures.
An analysis by the organization Civio of 115 proposed amendments to the draft law shows impressive differences among parties. Both PP and Vox support independent oversight models and propose including political parties and business associations as interest groups, alongside unions when they engage in lobbying. Junts, but, wants the law limited to professional lobbying, while BNG proposes restricting it to those seeking economic gain. Civio warns that these exceptions would undermine the law’s effectiveness and run counter to European standards.
Sumar’s proposals set a high bar for transparency, calling for a public register of lobbyists and financial disclosures, as well as identification of former public officials who lobby within five years of leaving office. ERC and Bildu back similar measures. The PSOE proposes a two-year ban on lobbying for former deputies and senior officials, while PNV wants to extend restrictions to all public employees who could be influenced.
Parliamentary sources indicate that only Junts’ vote is needed to advance the reform of the parliamentary rules, but negotiations on the lobbying law itself remain stalled. The debate reflects the lack of consensus on how to ensure transparency and accountability in lobbying activities.
Lobbying regulation is a recurring issue across Europe, where many countries have introduced laws to clarify the distinction between advocacy and undue influence. The Council of Europe’s GRECO has repeatedly recommended that Spain adopt strong measures to improve transparency and prevent corruption risks. Without a dedicated law, Spain remains one of the few major EU countries without comprehensive lobbying regulation, leaving public officials and lobbyists exposed to legal uncertainty and reputational risks. The outcome of the current negotiations will determine whether Spain closes this gap or continues to lag behind its European peers.
GRECO’s wider role in European anti-corruption coordination was also on display on 22 October 2026, when its president, David Meyer, joined the annual plenary of the EU Network Against Corruption alongside European Commission officials.
