Spanish MEP Dolors Montserrat (PPE) has asked the European Commission whether the Spanish Prime Minister violated EU statistical rules by publicly releasing social security affiliation data before its official publication. The question, submitted on 7 April 2026, targets potential breaches of impartiality and fair access principles under the European Statistics Code of Practice and Regulation (EU) 2019/2152.
Montserrat's written question (E-001393/2026) cites the Prime Minister's 6 April social media posts as an early dissemination of official statistics, which she argues undermines the embargo and the principle of simultaneous access. The MEP specifically asks the Commission to assess whether such actions by political leaders constitute a breach of EU law, and to outline existing monitoring and sanction mechanisms to prevent politicised use of official data.
a legal assessment of the incident and a clarification of enforcement tools. It reflects a concern over the integrity of the European Statistical System, particularly regarding political interference. The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks, and its answer will signal its stance on data independence and potential consequences for member states. Stakeholders impacted include EU statistical authorities, national governments, media relying on equal data access, and citizens expecting unbiased official information.