Reynders believes that Spain would set a "good example" if it has reformed the CGPJ model when it assumes the Presidency of the EU

Calls for more political forces to be involved in the negotiations

MADRID, 30 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The EU Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders, assured this Friday that Spain would set a "good example" if next year, when it has to assume the Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU), it has renewed the General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ) and has adopted the Brussels recommendation to reform the system for electing the governing body of judges.

This is how Reynders replied when asked at an informative breakfast at the New Economy Forum if the rotating Presidency of the EU would be in danger for Spain in the event that it had not applied by then, in the second half of 2023, the recommendations of the latest community report on The rule of law.

The European Commissioner for Justice has emphasized that the publication of the next report may coincide with the beginning of the Spanish Presidency of the Council, so it is "obvious", he continued, that "it will always be better to set a good example".

"It would be very good if at the beginning of your Presidency you show that it was possible to implement the different recommendations," said Reynders, who considers that with a step of this magnitude Spain would achieve a "reputational effect." "It is important to show that at the beginning of such an important task as the Presidency, you have been able to carry out the right path," he added.

Reynders has recognized that changing the CGPJ election system so that the judges choose their members is a "long process", but has recalled that the "blockade" has been taking place "since 2018".

"I hope that in the coming months there will be a solution and we will have the opportunity to evaluate a draft law on the reform. I am sure that a good solution will be found. There must be more political forces in the negotiations," he claimed.

And he has reiterated that he has not come to Madrid this week to "reform anything", but to encourage dialogue between "all" judicial and political actors in order to fulfill the Brussels "priority" of renewing the CGPJ and "immediately after" that a change be addressed in choosing their members. At the same time, he has repeated that he has seen a "clear commitment" to be able to do it.