Bolaños defends Spain's commitment to protecting people with disabilities and respecting their wishes in Brussels
News - 2026.3.6
The Minister for the Presidency, Justice and Parliamentary Relations, Félix Bolaños, along with the participants in the session
At the meeting, the proposed regulation on the protection of adults was put to a vote, which Spain opposed, as it did in June 2025. The Minister argued that, while he shares the objective of facilitating cross-border relations for people with disabilities, he believes the proposal is not ambitious enough.
He also reiterated that Spain has a model of support measures based on respect for the wishes and autonomy of people with disabilities. Specifically, he highlighted the recent amendment to Article 49 of the Spanish Constitution, as well as the 2021 law, which expanded both the rights and support measures for people with disabilities while respecting their autonomy.
In this regard, Minister Bolaños urged his European counterparts to move forward in this direction towards a more flexible instrument with a long-term vision.
The role of the legal profession in Europe
The ministers addressed other issues such as the initiatives launched by the European Union and the Council of Europe since the beginning of Russia's war against Ukraine, and the role of lawyers in preserving the rule of law in Europe.
In this respect, the minister acknowledged the fundamental work of lawyers in ensuring citizens' access to justice and emphasised the value of the 2021 General Statute of the Spanish Legal Profession, which is at the forefront of European legal regulation.
Bolaños also highlighted the Organic Law on the Right to Defence. A law promoted by the current government that develops this fundamental right and also regulates the rights of those who practice law.
Working breakfast with European counterparts
Within the framework of the Council, Bolaños and the French Minister of Justice, Gérald Darmanin, convened several European counterparts for a working breakfast to discuss the cooperation of digital platforms in judicial investigations.
This meeting allowed for an exchange of views that converged around the common objective of modernising and harmonising the necessary instruments for accessing and retaining electronic data to combat organised crime in the digital environment.
Non official translation