The Spanish government has undertaken a commitment to improve and modernise Administration so as to meet citizens' needs. In line with that commitment, a range of measures have been introduced to raise the quality of public services.

Royal Decree 1259/1999 of 16 July 1999, regulating citizen charters and quality awards in central government administration (now repealed), laid down the content and strategies for central government bodies to implement the principle of service to citizens and ensure the continuous improvement of their procedures, services and benefits.

This “Quality Plan for Central Government Administration” was later revised and extended by Royal Decree 951/2005, creating the General framework for quality improvement in Central Government Administration. The new framework combines six programmes in a coordinated and synergic way to drive the continuous improvement of public services in central government administration by involving the key stakeholders: policymakers and senior bodies, managers, and civil society.