Overview:

• State privilege is bestowed to the Catholic Church.

• Part of the recognition system is oriented on the use of bilateral cooperation agreements; agreements currently established serve Catholicism, Islam, Judaism and Protestantism; the notorio arraigo status establishes a vertical recognition system as registration with the government does not bestow the same level of recognition as these denominations receive.

• The informational requirements of groups seem appropriate but will require continued monitoring to ensure they are not unduly extended or misapplied.

• Access to notorio arraigo status is restricted by a longevity quota, an unspecified membership quota, and other ambiguous criteria and is also contingent on registration with the Ministry of the Presidency; an alternative to notorio arraigo status is provided through inclusion into the Register of Associations.

Positive elements:

• The Pluralism and Coexistence Foundation is established to promote religious freedom and diversity of belief and practice and also to facilitate interfaith dialogue which shows dynamic character.

Recommendations:

• Make bilateral cooperation agreements available to all groups so that they may then comprise a positive and characteristically dynamic element of the Spanish system.

• To become dynamic, establish a recognition agency that works to manage the recognition system in a way that is independent of government control.