News & Updates

29 October 2026 | Regulatory Update

EU AI Act: an October compliance update

The European Parliament updated its AI Act implementation overview on 21 October. The general application date was 2 August 2026, but the timetable remains phased: Annex III high-risk systems are scheduled for 2 December 2027 and high-risk systems embedded in regulated products for 2 August 2028.

For businesses operating in Spain, the practical starting point is to identify the AI systems they provide or use and check which obligations already apply. Later high-risk deadlines should not be treated as a postponement of every AI Act requirement.

Source: European Parliament: AI Act implementation timeline

3 September 2026 | Accessibility & Compliance

Spain publishes national cognitive accessibility standards

Royal Decree 707/2026 was published in the Official State Gazette on 3 September 2026. It establishes basic cognitive accessibility requirements and is due to enter into force on 2 January 2027.

The framework addresses understandable information and communication in areas including public administration, justice and digital services. Organisations should review how people understand their forms, instructions and customer journeys, while checking the precise scope and requirements relevant to their activities.

Source: BOE: Royal Decree 707/2026

2 August 2026 | Technology & Business

AI transparency rules begin applying

The European Commission announced that AI Act enforcement and new transparency requirements would begin on 2 August 2026. The rules cover matters such as informing users that they are interacting with AI and identifying certain AI-generated or manipulated content.

Businesses using customer-facing AI or publishing synthetic content should assess their role under the rules, review disclosures and establish who is responsible for compliance. The requirements differ by system and use case.

Source: European Commission: AI enforcement and transparency

7 June 2026 | Employment Law

EU pay transparency: the national implementation deadline

The EU Pay Transparency Directive required Member States to put implementing legislation in place by 7 June 2026. The directive aims to make unjustified differences in pay easier to identify and challenge.

Employers should check the Spanish measures applicable to their organisation when reviewing recruitment, pay information and equal-pay processes. This EU deadline alone does not establish that every directive requirement applies in the same way to every Spanish employer.

Source: Council of the EU: pay transparency and equal pay

20 May 2025 | Immigration Law

Spain’s new immigration regulation takes effect

The new immigration regulation approved by Royal Decree 1155/2024 began applying on 20 May 2025. The Ministry of Inclusion published implementation information for applications under the revised framework.

People planning a residence or work application should identify the correct procedure and check the current supporting documents, fees and transitional rules before submitting. Guidance issued during the initial rollout should be read alongside any later official updates.

Source: Ministry of Inclusion: immigration implementation notices

3 April 2025 | Litigation & Dispute Resolution

Pre-action negotiation becomes central to many civil claims

Organic Law 1/2025 introduced a general requirement to attempt an appropriate form of dispute resolution before bringing many civil claims. Recognised routes include negotiation, mediation and conciliation, subject to the law’s conditions and exceptions.

Before starting proceedings, parties should assess whether the requirement applies and what evidence of the attempt must be retained. The framework is not universal: the law sets out excluded matters and procedures for which a prior attempt is not required.

Source: BOE: Organic Law 1/2025