EU court upholds Spain's amnesty law for Catalan separatists
The European Union's top court has upheld Spain's 2024 amnesty law for Catalan separatists, ruling that it complies with EU legislation. This decision supports Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's efforts to reconcile political tensions following the failed 2017 secession attempt.
Why it matters
The ruling is a major political victory for the Spanish government and could influence the future of Catalan political figures living in exile.
The European Union's top Court handed a symbolic victory to Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Thursday (July 16, 2026), upholding his contested 2024 amnesty law for Catalan separatists involved in a failed secession bid.
The law was passed to secure the backing of Catalan separatist parties so Mr. Sanchez could remain in power after Spain's inconclusive 2023 general election, and to ease tensions in the north-eastern region following a failed 2017 secession bid. The measure was fiercely opposed by the right, which staged large street protests against it.
The Court of Justice of the European Union agreed with the government's longstanding argument that the amnesty law complies with EU legislation. "EU law does not preclude the amnesty law. That law seeks to reduce institutional and political tensions and to facilitate a scenario for reconciliation," the Luxembourg-based Court wrote in its ruling.
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