Bill proposes time limits for official state secrets

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

1. The bill would require setting a time limit when classifying information: at most 25 years for secret matters and 10 years for reserved ones. Only for secret matters could the Council of Ministers grant an exceptional, reasoned extension of up to 10 more years.
2. The power to classify information and to cancel its classification would rest exclusively with the Council of Ministers (Consejo de Ministros). When the time limit ends, the information would be declassified automatically unless the Council decides otherwise earlier.
3. The Congress of Deputies and the Senate would always have access to any classified information they request, with the procedure set by their own rules. The law would no longer say whether those sessions must be secret, since that is a matter for each chamber's rules.
4. A transitional provision would cover information classified before the law takes effect: items that have already met the time limit would be declassified, and the rest would be declassified when their limits are reached.

Who it affects

• The Government (Council of Ministers): It would be the only body able to classify and declassify information, and could exceptionally extend the time limit for secret matters with a reasoned decision.
• The Congress of Deputies and the Senate: They would always have access to classified information they request, under their own rules, and access in a non-secret session would declassify the information.
• The media and private individuals: They would be notified when information is classified if it may come to their knowledge, with the duty of cooperation set by the law.

Words worth knowing

Materia clasificada (classified matter)

Official information that cannot be freely accessed because it is considered secret or reserved for state security reasons.

Consejo de Ministros (Council of Ministers)

The body made up of the prime minister and the ministers, which makes the Government's main decisions.

Recurso contencioso-administrativo (judicial review claim)

A claim brought before the courts to review a decision by the public administration.

It summarizes the text as it was introduced. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries