24 noviembre 2022
Petición 0458/2015, de 11 de mayo, ante el Parlamento Europeo, instando declarar contrario al Derecho de la Unión la imposición de Prelatura del Opus Dei a mujeres numerarias de dormir en tabla.
Contestación de la Presidenta de la Comisión de Peticiones Cecilia Wikström,
24 noviembre 2022
Escrito de 7 julio 2022 al Banco Central Europeo solicitando que el Vicepresidente, D. Luis de Guindos Jurado, haga constar su condición de socio supernumerario de la Prelatura del Opus Dei en la declaración de intereses.
Contestación de 15.07.2022, del Banco Central Europeo.
8 noviembre 2022
1 noviembre 2022
29 octubre 2022
«Requiérase al querellante a fin de que en el plazo de cinco días aporte poder especial» (a favor de Procurador)
Providencia de 24 octubre 2022, Sala de lo Penal, Sección 4.ª, Tribunal Supremo.
29 abril 2021
REPLY OF MS. ANNA CAVAZZINI, PRESIDENT OF THE COMMITTEE ON INTERNAL MARKET AND CONSUMER PROTECTION, EUROPEAN PARLEAMENT.
Dear Mr. Ribas-Alegret,
I would first like to thank you for your mail and time. I appreciate your interest in this matter.
Your points are indeed very interesting and definitely concern a controversy that both the European Union and the Spanish government have been conducting for a long time. However, I would also like to mention that the Spanish government is seemingly committed to adapting its legal framework to European rules. As I happen to know, the government has published and communicated new proposals only a few months ago. In this sense, I do not believe that an EU infringement procedure is further necessary; instead, I think that the best way of ‘approaching’ this issue is by not opposing the government’s commitment for legislative reforms.
REPLICA
Dear Ms. Cavazzini,
Thank you very much for your kind and prompt reply.
First, I must specify that the infringement proceedings ‘Procuradores’ have several items, whereas my complaint is focused only on the exclusive reserve to the Procuradores.
I do not know the data that you mention, because my requests for access to information (1) were systematically dismissed in whole. However, according to the web of the Spanish Parliament, the content of the legal reform has not changed since the Council of Ministers’ project was filed the 1.10.2020 (2).
Concerning this legislative draft, the Council of Judiciary (‘Consejo General del Poder Judicial’) (3) issued a legal report (4), which recognize the deception,
71. ‘… our conclusion on this point is frankly unfavorable: as regards the failure to address the nuclear issue objected to by the [European] Comisión -the exclusive reservation of functions to the Procurador-, our conclusion is that the draft again fails the purposes that justify its issuance and maintains the Spanish State in a situation of non-compliance with Arts. 49 and 56 TFEU and the Directive on Services.’
74. ‘As we have pointed out in § 19 of this report, the [European] Commission has understood that the exclusive reserve to the Procuradores of the functions of «technical representation» and of communication of the parties with the courts and tribunals constitutes a restriction to the services which can be provided by other legal operators -lawyers-, without an understandable justification in overriding reasons of general interest and, thereby it is contrary to Arts. 49 and 56 TFEU and the Directive on Services.’
Conclusions, fourth. ‘… the report is totally unfavorable and considers that the draft does not satisfy at all the purposes of the reform or the requirements of the European Commission, and that this determines the persistence of infractions of Arts. 49 and 56 TFEU and the Directive on Services, infractions that will persist as long as is maintained in favor of the Procuradores the exclusive reserve of the «technical representation» and acts of communication, with the exclusion of the lawyers.’
The same opinion is reflected in my complaint of the 23.04.2013 before the Commission.
Ready to move definitely from Catalonia forced by the corruption of the Spanish judicial system, ‘I have a dream’: having contributed to remove the Procurador ‘feudal’ barrier, restoring the single market and the fundamental right of access to justice under Arts. 19(2) TEU, 47 CFREU and Directive on Services.
I thank you again for your attention, inviting you to commit such right goals by follow up the ‘Procuradores’ affair, so that the good words of the Spanish authorities may become reality, avoiding the EU Court of Justice intervention.
_______________________
1. Requests for access to information, three times before the European Commission’s Secretariat-General the 28.07.2013, with confirmatory petition of 23.08.2013; the 21.12.2015; and the 8.05.2017, with confirmatory petition of 10.07.2017. As well to the Ministry of Economy and Business the 23.06.2018; and to the Ministry of the Foreign Affairs the 8.08.2020, with review to the Council of Transparency of 22.10.2020.
3. The ‘Consejo General del Poder Judicial’ is the highest governing institution of the Judiciary in Spain.
4. ‘Informe sobre el Anteproyecto de Ley por la que se modifica la Ley 34/2006, de 30 de octubre’ y otras disposiciones, pp. 25-34 and 36. https://www.poderjudicial.es/stfls/CGPJ/COMISI%C3%93N%20DE%20ESTUDIOS%20E%20INFORMES/INFORMES%20DE%20LEY/FICHERO/20190131%20Informe%20Anteproyecto%20ley%20acceso%20a%20profesiones%20de%20abogado%20y%20procurador%2019.18.pdf
Anna Cavazzini, MEP, IMCO President, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance.
27 abril 2021
Solicitud de acceso a la información pública, relativa a pertenencia de determinados Jueces, Magistrados, Fiscales y Letrados judiciales a la Prelatura del Opus Dei.
Contestación:
SECRETARÍA DE ESTADO
PRIMERA SECCIÓN – ASUNTOS GENERALES
Vaticano, 21 de enero de 2020
N. 479.070
Estimado en el Señor:
Me es grato cumplir con el encargo de acusar recibo de su atenta carta del pasado día 11 de noviembre de 2019, dirigida al Cardenal Presidente de la Comisión Pontificia para el Estado de la Ciudad del Vaticano, y en la que presenta una solicitud relativa a la Prelatura Personal del Opus Dei.
A este respecto, debo informale que la Santa Sede no puede satisfacer dicha petición, que debería dirigir, en modo apropiado, al mismo Opus Dei.
Aprovecho esta ocasión para expresarle el testimonio de mi consideración y estima en Cristo.
Mons. L. Roberto Cona – Asesor»
25 abril 2021
Acto que se certifica: Acuerdo adoptado por el Pleno en su reunión del día 18 de julio de 2000
“Unico.- Aprobar las propuestas para la Reforma de la Justicia sobre la base del Libro Blanco de la Justicia y de las sugerencias formuladas por las Salas de Gobierno, en los términos del Anexo único que se incorpora a la documentación del Pleno. […]»
La propuesta interesada por el demandante de información reza del tenor literal siguiente:
«Los Jueces y Magistrados, así como los Fiscales mientras se hallan en servicio activo, no podrán pertenecer a partidos políticos, sindicatos ni a organizaciones secretas o que funcionen sin transparencia pública, sea cual fuere la forma jurídica que adopten, que puedan generar vínculos de disciplina u obediencia ajenos a los mandatos del ordenamiento jurídico constitucional«
Y para que conste y surta los efectos oportunos, expido la presente en Madrid, a 18 de marzo de 2021 José Luis de Benito y Benítez de Lugo – Secretario General
19 abril 2021
Letter to the Members of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE), European Parliament.
“I am writing to you concerning the breach of the rule of law in Spain because of the ‘exclusive reserve’ (monopoly) of the Procurador, a legal profession charged with representing the citizens before the courts and conduct communications with them, prohibiting these functions to the Attorney.
Spain is the unique Member State of the EU where this ‘feudal’ situation exists (1). The added cost of the Procurador prevents European citizens access to the judicial system (2), subverting the effective legal protection in all the fields covered by the Union law, under Art. 19(2) TEU and Art. 47 CFREU. An estimated increase in litigation cost of EUR 100,000,000,000 (one hundred thousand million) from 2012 to date.
As Treaties guardian, the European Commission verifying that the Kingdom of Spain failed to transpose the Directive on Services in this matter, finally opened infringement procedure, INFR(2015)4062. Once the reasoned opinion was ignored, the issue may be referred to the EU Court of Justice. However, the DG GROW, E1 Unit, after an opaque tour of nine years (3), unexpectedly, like stationary bicycle, it goes down in the same place that went up, and it announces the intention to propose the closure of the proceeding, leaving without enforcement the Directive on Services and at present also the Directive on Proportionality of new regulation of professions.
The compulsory intervention of the Procurador blocks the access to justice in many cases. That’s why becomes the most serious EU law infringement between the 104 pending proceedings against Spain (4).
In keeping with the Abraham Lincoln’s famous adage, ‘law without enforcement is just good advice’, the President’s Mission letter entrust to the Commissioner Reynders (5) ‘to focus on the application and enforcement of EU law within [Justice] field’, because ‘the European Union is a community of law, based on the protection of individual rights and freedoms’, where ‘the rule of law is a prerequisite for the other fundamental values of rights and democracy, and it is crucial to ensuring the smooth functioning of our single market’.
Therefore, I am urging your support in the ‘Procuradores affair’ to avoid this breach of the rule of law and the violation of the European legal framework, protect the single market and the trust in the Union institutions, in particular,
– Demanding to the European Commission to bring the case before the EU Court of Justice.
– Asking for an independent enquiry about if the infringement proceeding has been handled impartial, fair and timely.
[…]
1. Italy put an end to the “Procuratori legali”, attributing his fonction of representation to the Attorney, Legge 24 febbraio 1997, n. 27. Soppressione dell’albo dei procuratori legali e norme in materia di esercizio della professione forense, and according to the Directive on Services, France eliminated the “Avoué”, that still subsisted in the appeal courts, by Loi n.º 2011-94, de 25 janvier 2011 (into force from 1 January 2012).
2. For instance, many of the more that two million Spanish consumers damaged by foreclosure of mortgage loans, despite the unfair terms against the UE law, could not access to justice system due to the Procurador barrier.
3. Throughout this period, as complainant in the proceeding, I have seen rejected three requests for access to information.
4. Infringements Register, https://bit.ly/32e30PL
Recipients: Pietro BARTOLO, Vice-Chair; Emil RADEV, Vice-Chair; Lena DÜPONT, EPP Vice-Coordinator; Cornelia ERNST, The Left Coordinator; Cornelia ERNST, The Left Coordinator; Sophia IN ‘T VELD, Renew Coordinator; Patryk JAKI, Greens/EFA Co-Coordinator; Jeroen LENAERS, EPP Coordinator; Jeroen LENAERS, EPP Coordinator; Nicola PROCACCINI, ECR Coordinator; Terry REINTKE, Greens/EFA Co-Coordinator; Birgit Sippel, S&D Coordinator; Tineke STRIK, Greens/EFA Co-Coordinator; Annalisa TARDINO, ID Coordinator; Dragoş TUDORACHE, Renew Deputy Coordinator; Magdalena ADAMOWICZ, Konstantinos ARVANITIS, Malik AZMANI, Katarina BARLEY, Nicolas BAY, Vladimir BILČÍK, Vasile BLAGA, Ioan-Rareş BOGDAN, Patrick BREYER, Saskia BRICMONT, Joachim Stanisław BRUDZIŃSKI, Damien CARÊME, Caterina CHINNICI, Clare DALY, Anna Júlia DONÁTH; Laura FERRARA, Nicolaus FEST, Jean-Paul GARRAUD, Marcel de GRAAFF, Maria GRAPINI, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Andrzej HALICKI, Evin INCIR, Marina KALJURAND, Assita KANKO, Fabienne KELLER, Peter KOFOD, Łukasz KOHUT, Moritz KÖRNER, Alice KUHNKE, Lukas MANDL, Nuno MELO, Roberta METSOLA, Nadine MORANO, Paulo RANGEL, Ralf SEEKATZ, Michal ŠIMEČKA, Sara SKYTTEDAL, Martin SONNEBORN, Ramona STRUGARIU, Tomas TOBÉ, Milan UHRÍK, Tom VANDENDRIESSCHE, Bettina VOLLATH, Elissavet Vozemberg-Vrionidi, Jadwiga Wiśniewska, Elena YONCHEVA.
10 abril 2021
Letter to the Members of the Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO), European Parliament.
Dear Ms. Cavazzini,
I am writing to you concerning the lack of compliance with the Directive on Services and the Proportionality Directive, regarding the legal professions in Spain.
Surprisingly, the Kingdom of Spain is the one Member State of the European Union (*) where the Attorneys are prohibited from representing their clients in courts and the communications with them, while these functions remain exclusively reserved to a professional named “Procurador”.
This is not another case of disturbing freedom to provide services in the single market. With around EUR 100.000 million cumulated damages, its paramount importance derives from subverting the effective legal protection in all the fields covered by the Union law (Art. 19(2) TEU; Art. 47 CFREU), in a frame of high judicial corruption.
Acting as Treaties guardian, the European Commission verified that the Kingdom of Spain failed to incorporate the Directive on Services in this matter and opened infringement procedure under Art. 258 TFEU. Once the letter of formal notice and reasoned opinion was launched without reply, INFR(2015)4062, can bring the issue before the Court of Justice of the European Union.
However, after a dark tour of nine years, unexpectedly, like a stationary bicycle, the Commission gets off in the same place that went on without advancing anything, and it aims to close the procedure undermining the Directive on Services and the Directive of Proportionality.
In light of the aforementioned, I am asking for your support to avoid this breach of European law, protect the single market and the trust in the Union institutions.
Yours sincerely,
* Italy put an end to the “Procuratori legali”, attributing the activity of representation to the Attorney, Legge 24 febbraio 1997, n. 27. Soppressione dell’albo dei procuratori legali e norme in materia di esercizio della professione forense, and according to the Directive on Services, France eliminated the “Avoué” that still subsisted in the appeal courts by Loi n.º 2011-94, de 25 janvier 2011 (into force from 1 January 2012).
Recipients: Anna CAVAZZINI, Chair; Andrus ANSIP, Vice-Chair; Maria GRAPINI, Vice-Chair; Róża THUN UND HOHENSTEIN, Vice-Chair; SCHALDEMOSE; Coordinator; Christel ANDREAS SCHWAB, Coordinator and Raporteur of the Directive of Proportionality; Alex AGIUS SALIBA, Alessandra BASSO, Brando BENIFEI, Adam BIELAN, Hynek BLAŠKO, Biljana BORZAN, Vlad-Marius BOTOŞ, Markus BUCHHEIT, Deirdre CLUNE, David CORMAND, Dita CHARANZOVÁ, Carlo FIDANZA, Evelyne GEBHARDT, Alexandra GEESE, Sandro GOZI, Svenja HAHN, Virginie JORON, Eugen JURZYCA, Arba KOKALARI, Marcel KOLAJA, Kateřina KONEČNÁ, Andrey KOVATCHEV, Morten LØKKEGAARD, Antonius MANDERS, Beata MAZUREK, Karen MELCHIOR, Leszek MILLER, Dan-Ştefan MOTREANU, Anne-Sophie PELLETIER, Miroslav RADAČOVSKÝ, Christel SCHALDEMOSE, Tomislav SOKOL, Kim Van SPARRENTAK, Ivan ŠTEFANEC, Tom VANDENKENDELAERE, Marion WALSMANN, Kosma ZŁOTOWSKI, Marco ZULLO.
PODER JUDICIAL - Magí Ribas Alegret 