EU court upholds Spanish amnesty law as compatible with EU law

The EU's top court ruled on Thursday that Spain's amnesty law for those involved in Catalonia's separatist drive does not violate EU law, as its adoption and application fall within member state competence. The judgment could pave the way for the return of exiled Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont. The law, passed by Spain's lower house in 2024, annuls criminal records of hundreds of officials and activists linked to the 2017 independence referendum. The court also upheld a procedural two-month deadline for amnesty decisions, but stressed that preliminary rulings must be awaited.