The selection of Teresa Ribera as Vice President of the European Commission has elicited criticism and demands for an independent review of her work as Spain’s Minister for the Ecological Transition under the leadership of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
During her tenure, Ribera led key decisions in the areas of energy, environmental policy, and sustainability—some of which have faced intense scrutiny due to their impact on energy prices, lack of transparency in renewable energy concessions, and her ministry’s dealings with large corporate stakeholders.
Civil society organizations, professional associations, and a number of opposition parties contend that the lack of responsibility with respect to these matters might result in a conflict of interest in her upcoming position in Europe, particularly if she is in charge of areas that intersect with decisions she made while serving in the Spanish government.
“It is important to recognize that an individual who was involved in making contentious choices at the country level now has the capacity to impact similar policy domains from Brussels,” noted parliamentary insiders, who are calling for open sessions and a detailed examination of the contracts granted by her department.
A key concern involves the authorization of a wholesale fuel operator license to the company Villafuel S.L. by Ribera’s ministry. The company, linked to Víctor de Aldama—a central figure in the so-called Koldo case—was granted the license under conditions that, according to the Civil Guard’s Central Operative Unit (UCO), failed to meet the legal requirements. And Teresa Ribera has acknowledged that she met with him.
The license was granted within three days, even though the company had been denied three times before. Villafuel’s equity amounted to just €15,000, which falls significantly short of the normal minimum required for these licenses, and its operational setup revealed major inconsistencies in documentation.
Investigators found that the ministry signed three separate resolutions that directly benefited Villafuel. Furthermore, UCO reports point to institutional-level pressure to expedite the license approval, which led Judge Santiago Pedraz of the Audiencia Nacional (National Court) to formally request the full licensing dossier from the ministry.
While Ribera refutes having any direct role, the investigation is still ongoing. Spain’s Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office backs the judge’s demand to scrutinize the licensing process and any possible connections between government officials from that period and business individuals linked to a hydrocarbon VAT fraud operation, with losses reportedly exceeding €180 million.
The Spanish authorities canceled Villafuel’s permit in February 2025, after verifying its participation in illegal operations. The situation is evolving, carrying both political and administrative consequences, just as Ribera steps into a significant role at the European Commission.
