Overview

• On August 6, Hazte Oír filed a complaint under the EU Media Freedom Regulation, arguing that proposed administrative fines for journalists violate EU rules on press protection
• The Council of State issued an advisory labeling €30,000 to €2.5 million penalties as excessively high and warning they could deter fundamental rights like freedom of information
• The draft law, sent to Congress in July, establishes four secrecy tiers with retroactive declassification deadlines from nine to 60 years and carves out exceptions for human rights violations
• The Ministry of Justice insists the sanctions are essential to safeguard national security and prevent dangerous disclosures of high-level secrets
• Coalition partners and civil society organizations are preparing amendments for the autumn parliamentary debates to reduce fines and adjust declassification schedules