Spain

Congress of Deputies Senate

Senate

Political system: Parliamentary system
Structure of parliament: Bicameral
IPU membership: Yes

Openness and transparency

Information about access to parliamentary documents, parliament’s reporting to the public, parliament’s relation to Freedom of Information laws, and lobbying.

Parliamentary documents

The agendas of plenary meetings are published online in advance: All
The agendas of committee meetings are published online in advance: All
Results of votes on draft legislation are published on the parliamentary web site: All
Draft legislation is published on the parliamentary website: All
Citizens can submit comments on draft legislation on the parliamentary web site: Yes

Annual reporting by parliament

Parliament publishes an annual report on its activities: No
The annual report is available on the parliamentary web site: No information available
Parliament publishes the parliamentary budget: Yes
Level of detail of the parliamentary budget made available to the public: The complete budget
The parliamentary budget is available on the parliamentary web site: Yes
Link to the parliamentary budget: https://www.congreso.es/cem/presupuestos-del-congreso

Access to parliament

Plenary meetings are open to the public: Yes

Notes:
During meetings access to the Chamber of Sessions is permitted only to Senators and civil servants. In the Chamber there is a gallery for press and the public.

Exceptions found here: https://www.senado.es/web/conocersenado/elsenadoabresuspuertas/visitarsenado/solicitarvisita/index.html
Committee meetings are open to the public: No
There is a dedicated channel for broadcasting parliamentary meetings: Yes
Media used for the dedicated channel: TV

Webcast
Meetings broadcast on the dedicated channel: Plenary sittings

Committee meetings

Freedom of information

There is a freedom of information law in the country: Yes
Parliament is subject to the freedom of information law: Yes
Parliament has an office/division dedicated to FOI requests: Yes
Categories of Information that are exempt from disclosure: Law 19/2013, of December 9, on Transparency, Access to Public Information and Good governance.

Access to information can be limited if there is a risk to national security, defense, international relations, public safety/security, the prevention and investigation of crimes, economic and business interests, professional secrets, intellectual and industrial property environmental protection, personal data. The application of the limits must be justified and proportional, and the corresponding resolution is made public.

There is a Commission for Access to Public Information in the Congress: https://www.congreso.es/public_oficiales/L10/CONG/BOCG/D/BOCG-10-D-595.PDF

Lobbying

There are rules about the activities of lobbyists in parliament: Yes

Sources: https://www.congreso.es/cem/mesacong20012015transp
There is a register of accredited lobbyists: No

Spain

Senate

Openness and transparency

Parliamentary documents

Annual reporting by parliament

Access to parliament

Freedom of information

Lobbying

Historical data for IPU membership

Historical data for Citizens can submit comments on draft legislation on the parliamentary web site

Historical data for There are rules about the activities of lobbyists in parliament