The European Commission shall take measures against various Member States of the European Union (EU), which have not notified the Commission the measures established to transfer EU directives to their national law. The deadline for the transfer of these directives to national law has recently expired.

The committee addresses warning letters In these Member States, which now have two months to respond and complete the transfer of instructions to their national law. If they do not, the Commission may address them more urgent warning, the so -called reasoned opinion. These Member States have not fully transferred to their national law one of the EU guidelines on defense, energy, transport, justice and health. The Commission calls on them to take immediate action to harmonize their legislation with EU requirements.

The Commission calls on Member States to convey to their national law the enhanced rules for promoting renewable energy sources

The European Commission has decided to initiate proceedings in violation by sending warning letters to 26 Member States (Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Latvia, Lithuania Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland and Sweden) because they did not communicate to the European Commission the complete transfer of the provisions of amending Directive (EU) 2023/2413 to their national law. The Directive was adopted in 2023. Member States should have notified the transfer of the Directive to their national law by 21 May 2025, with the exception of certain licensing provisions, the deadline for which the transfer of which expired on July 1, 2024, the new rules are aimed at expanding the use of the energy sources – Electricity sector, but also, in particular, in the areas in which progress is slower, such as heating and cooling, buildings, transport and industry, areas where we have also set new or enhanced goals. The rules adopt significantly horizontal and cross -sectional measures to expand the use of renewable energy sources, such as enhancing the guarantees of origin, facilitating the integration of the energy system by promoting electricity and renewable hydrogen, as well as safeguarding. The implementation of the legislation is critical for the faster spread of domestic clean energy, the further reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the energy sector (which is currently responsible for more than 75% of total emissions in the Union), but also for enhancing energy security. It will also help reduce energy prices and enhance the competitiveness of the Union economy. To date, only Denmark has notified the complete transfer of the directive to its national law within the legal deadline. For this reason, the Commission shall apply for warning letters to 26 Member States. They now have two months to respond, complete the transfer to their national law and to notify the Commission. If the committee does not receive a satisfactory answer, it may decide to send a reasoned opinion.

The European Commission Calls Member States to fully transfer the Directive to their national law about criminalizing the union’s restrictive measures

The European Commission has decided to initiate proceedings in violation by sending warning letters to 18 Member States (Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Cyprus, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands of the Directive on the criminalization of a violation of European Union’s restrictive measures (EU) [οδηγία (ΕΕ) 2024/1226]. The Directive establishes common rules to harmonize the definition of criminal offenses and sanctions for violating the union’s restrictive measures. Its purpose is to prevent the circumvention of EU sanctions, including those who were established after the Russian attack on Ukraine. The harmonization of national criminal law in this area will facilitate the investigation and prosecution of union sanctions violations in all Member States, making EU restrictive measures more effective. Member States have to transfer the Directive to their national law by 20 May 2025. To date, 18 Member States have not notified the Commission the complete transfer of the directive to their national law. For this reason, the Commission shall apply for warning letters to these Member States, which now have two months to respond, to complete the transfer to their national law and to notify the Commission. If the committee does not receive a satisfactory answer, it may decide to send a reasoned opinion.

Lena Piczani