EU Launches Anti-Corruption Directive

In a significant legislative move, the European Union has provisionally agreed on its first directive aimed at harmonizing criminal law rules to combat corruption across its member states. This landmark agreement, reached on the evening of Tuesday, was announced by the European Parliament’s Press Service.

The directive introduces uniform definitions for corruption offenses, sets common sanctions, and mandates national anti-corruption strategies. These measures are designed to provide a cohesive approach to tackle corruption, prevent legal discrepancies that could be exploited, and enhance the effectiveness of prosecution across the EU.

During the negotiations, the European Parliament played a crucial role in shaping the directive to include annual publication of corruption data in accessible formats and ensuring that each member state devises a national anti-corruption strategy in consultation with civil society and relevant authorities. This push for greater transparency and consistent enforcement underscores the EU’s commitment to strengthening the rule of law and addressing corruption risks more effectively.

The agreement also includes provisions for stronger cooperation among national authorities and key EU bodies such as the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, Europol, and Eurojust. Moreover, the directive sets out harmonized definitions for offenses such as bribery, misappropriation of funds, and obstruction of justice, along with a common level for maximum prison sentences, allowing member states the discretion to impose stricter penalties if desired.

The provisional agreement must now be formally approved by both the Parliament and the Council before it becomes enforceable. This directive represents a significant step in the EU’s efforts to enhance its anti-corruption measures, as reflected in the positive remarks from Parliament’s rapporteur Raquel García Hermida-van der Walle, who highlighted the directive as a breakthrough for EU citizens and a strong move towards more uniform legal standards across the Union.