This contribution discusses the regulation contained in the Royal Decree establishing the state of emergency in Spain on suspension of the running of the periods of prescription in a private law system that does not have a general rule on suspension. Since the Spanish legislator has suspended the running of the periods for all citizens and claims as long as the emergency state has been in force, it is questionable whether this solution is efficient in terms of protection of people who, because of illness caused by COVID, are unable to pursue a claim once the emergency state has come to an end. Moreover, the Spanish Civil Code still distinguishes usucapio inter presentes and usucapio inter absentes, the latter requiring a longer period, but the Royal Decree does not contain any rule on acquisitive prescription.

THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK

The Royal Decree 463/2020, of 14 March, that declared the state of emergency in Spain because of the pandemic caused by COVID-19, contains three (additional) dispositions concerning prescription and lapse of rights.

The first (Second Additional Disposition) deals with procedural periods and establishes (in Spanish) in its first paragraph that “se suspenden términos y se suspenden e interrumpen los plazos previstos en las leyes procesales para todos los órdenes jurisdiccionales. El computo de los plazos se reanudar a en el momento en que pierda vigencia el presente real decreto o, en su caso, las prórrogas del mismo” (dates are suspended, and periods established in procedural laws are suspended and interrupted, own translation).

The second (Third Additional Disposition) tackles administrative periods and lays down along the same lines that “se suspenden terminos y se interrumpen los plazos para la tramitación de los procedimientos de las entidades del sector publico. El cómputo de los plazos se reanudaa en el momento en que pierda vigencia el presente real decreto o, en su caso, las prorrogas del mismo” (dates are suspended and periods for complying with public sector procedures are interrupted. The running of the period will start to run again right at the moment when this Royal Decree or its extensions cease to be in force, own translation).