Attorney General CJEU 2026 Call: Who Can Apply and How

Key data

The position of Attorney General of the Court of Justice of the European Union becomes vacant due to the non-renewal of the current Spanish holder. To fill it, the Ministry of the Presidency, Justice and Relations with the Courts has published the Order PJC/909/2026, of August 24, which opens the selection procedure for the candidate that Spain will propose to European institutions.

The process is governed by Royal Decree 972/2020 and will culminate with a proposal submitted to the Council of Ministers, which will communicate it to the EU Council for formal appointment. The window for submitting applications is very narrow: 10 business days from publication in the BOE on September 1, 2026.

What does this regulation establish?

Order PJC/909/2026 convenes the procedure to identify and propose the Spanish candidate for the position of Attorney General of the Court of Justice of the EU. This position is one of the most relevant in the European judicial system: Attorneys General assist the Court by issuing reasoned and impartial conclusions on matters submitted for their consideration.

The key elements of the procedure are as follows:

The evaluation committee, chaired by the Secretary of State for the EU, will assess three main dimensions: the candidate's legal merits, their international experience, and their linguistic competencies in English and French, the working languages of the CJEU.

Economic and operational impact

This call does not generate economic obligations or direct costs for companies or self-employed individuals. Its impact is of an institutional and strategic nature: the presence of a Spanish national in the position of Attorney General of the CJEU influences the orientation of the conclusions that precede the Court's judgments, with potential effect on European litigation of great economic and regulatory relevance.

For law firms specializing in European law, international law offices and large corporations with litigation before the CJEU, the profile of the Spanish Attorney General may be relevant in the medium term, as their conclusions guide the Court's jurisprudence in matters such as competition, free movement, harmonized taxation or public procurement.

From an operational perspective, the immediate impact falls on jurists with eligible profiles who must decide in a very short period (10 business days) whether to submit their candidacy.

Who does it affect?

• High-level Spanish jurists with proven experience in European and international law who meet conditions to exercise the highest judicial functions.
• Judges, law professors and lawyers with a track record in European or international institutions.
• Law firms and legal practices specializing in litigation before the CJEU, which may be indirectly affected by the profile of the new Attorney General.
• Large companies and corporations with active or foreseeable proceedings before the CJEU in matters of competition, taxation or sectoral regulation.
• Public administrations and regulatory bodies that participate in preliminary ruling proceedings before the CJEU.

Practical example

A professor of European law with 20 years of experience in litigation before the CJEU and proven command of English and French receives news of the call on September 1, 2026. They have exactly 10 business days to prepare and submit their application to the Ministry of the Presidency, Justice and Relations with the Courts.

Their candidacy will be evaluated by the committee chaired by the Secretary of State for the EU, which will analyze their legal merits, their international track record and their competencies in the two working languages of the CJEU. If selected, the proposal is submitted to the Council of Ministers and, from there, formally communicated to the EU Council for final appointment.

The candidate must ensure they offer guarantees of independence and meet the conditions required to exercise the highest judicial functions, as required by Royal Decree 972/2020.

What should candidates do now?

1. Verify the deadline: The application submission period is 10 business days from September 1, 2026. Calculate the exact deadline taking into account national holidays.
2. Review the requirements of Royal Decree 972/2020: Confirm that the conditions of independence and aptitude to exercise the highest judicial functions required by the reference regulation are met.
3. Prepare legal merits documentation: Gather evidence of experience in European and international law, publications, positions and participation in proceedings before the CJEU or equivalent bodies.
4. Accredit linguistic competencies in English and French: The evaluation committee will specifically assess these competencies, so it is advisable to have certifications or documented evidence.
5. Submit the application to the Ministry of the Presidency, Justice and Relations with the Courts within the established deadline, following the procedure indicated in Order PJC/909/2026.
6. Follow the subsequent process: The final proposal will be submitted to the Council of Ministers and communicated to the EU Council. Candidates must be available for any interviews or appearances before the selection committee.

Official source

Consult complete regulation in official source

Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-18377