EU Court to Rule on Spain's Amnesty Law on July 16

The European Court of Justice (TJUE) will deliver two landmark rulings on July 16 regarding Spain's amnesty law for Catalan separatists. The rulings follow preliminary questions from Spain's Court of Auditors and the National Court, concerning the legality of the amnesty under EU law. The first case examines whether expenses from the 2017 independence referendum put EU financial interests at risk, potentially affecting the accountability of former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont and others. The second case assesses whether the amnesty can be applied to terrorism charges against members of the Committees for the Defense of the Republic (CDR). Source: abc.es The Advocate General, Dean Spielmann, previously issued an opinion supporting the law, stating it does not constitute a self-amnesty and does not violate EU anti-terrorism directives. Source: elconfidencial However, the Spanish Supreme Court has argued that the amnesty cannot cover the crime of embezzlement, a position at odds with the Advocate General's view. Source: elmundoes The rulings will be binding and could influence the Spanish Constitutional Court's decision on Puigdemont's appeal, potentially facilitating his return to Spain. The Court will sit as the Grand Chamber, reflecting the significance of the cases.