Special Information Briefing COVID-19 (No. 22): Fifth extension of the state of alarm: lifting of the suspension of deadlines

Following the start of the de-escalation phase of the various measures adopted as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, the Spanish Government (Consejo de Ministros) agreed to approve a series of measures, including Royal Decree 537/2020, of 22 May, extending the state of alarm declared in Royal Decree 463/2020, of 14 March, which declared the state of alarm for the management of the health crisis caused by COVID-19 (“RD 537/2020” and “RD 463/2020” respectively).

RD 537/2020, in addition to extending the state of alarm until midnight on 7 June, establishes a series of procedural measures that are complementary to those established in Royal Decree-law 16/2020, of 28 April, on procedural and organisational measures to address COVID-19 in the area of the administration of justice (“RDL 16/2020”)2. Of these measures, the following are particularly noteworthy:

• the lifting of the suspension of procedural terms and deadlines, repealing, with effect from 4 June 2020, the Second Additional Provision of RD 463/2020;
• the lifting of the suspension of administrative terms and deadlines, repealing, with effect from 1 June 2020, the Third Additional Provision of RD 463/2020; and
• the lifting of the suspension of the statute of limitations and expiration periods, repealing, with effect from 4 June 2020, the Fourth Additional Provision of RD 463/2020.

The entire content of the Information Briefing can be found in the PDF.