EU Commission 'has not expressed concerns' over pro-independence amnesty
Commission asked Spanish government for more information on potential law in response to citizen concerns
The European Commission has made clear that the letter sent to the Spanish government to request more information on a future amnesty law responds to "concerns" from the public rather than from the EU body itself.
"We had received comments from the public expressing concerns," spokesperson Eric Mamer said on Friday.
"We have not expressed concerns and we will not express any opinion on something that we have not seen," he added.
An amnesty law absolving figures involved in Catalonia's independence push over the last decade – including the 2017 referendum outlawed by Spain – is one the key aspects of post-electoral deals the Socialists have agreed with pro-independence ERC and Junts.
In return, the Catalan parties have agreed to support the reelection of Pedro Sánchez as Prime Minister.
Request for information
"What we have done is make a request to the Spanish authorities to give us more information and the Spanish authorities have said that they will give it to us. That is the point we are at," Mamer stressed.
Regarding the fact that the letter from the Commissioner of Justice, Didier Reynders, to the Spanish government was made public by Ciudadanos MEP Adrián Vázquez (from the same political group as Reynders), Mamer remarked that communications between Brussels and member states are "bilateral" and "it would be convenient if they were kept confidential."