EU seals toughest-ever anti-corruption rules in landmark directive

The European Union has reached a landmark political agreement on its most extensive anti-corruption overhaul to date, after negotiators finalised the new Directive on Combating Corruption.

The provisional deal, struck in trilogue negotiations on Wednesday, introduces EU-wide definitions for corruption offences, minimum limitation periods, and common standards for maximum penalties. It marks the first time the bloc will have a unified framework obliging every member state to adopt enforceable rules against bribery, abuse of office, misappropriation, influence-peddling, obstruction of justice, and related crimes.

The directive also requires governments to adopt comprehensive national anti-corruption strategies, carry out sector-specific risk assessments, and implement stricter rules for high-level public officials. Additional preventive measures will include improved access to public-interest information and new non-criminal sanctions that can be applied to both individuals and companies convicted of corruption.

At the institutional level, Member States will have to establish independent and properly resourced bodies to prevent and investigate corruption, while EU authorities will strengthen monitoring and data collection feeding into the annual Rule of Law report. The framework aims to close enforcement gaps that have long allowed corruption cases to go unpunished or unevenly prosecuted across the bloc.

Maltese MEP David Casa was the EPP’s lead negotiator on the package. He said the agreement makes a decisive step toward closing loopholes and ending impunity across the bloc.

“I welcome the provisional agreement on the biggest anti-corruption package to date at EU level. This directive strengthens the EU’s toolkit and reinforces Member States’ commitment to fight corruption at home and across borders,” he said.

Casa also said the conclusion of the trilogues comes at a critical time, following recent scandals and increased public demand for transparency and accountability.

“Backsliding on anti-corruption measures is unacceptable. This directive sets essential standards to guarantee that nobody is above the law, obliging countries to establish independent, properly resourced bodies and ensuring EU-level monitoring and data collection feeding into the annual Rule of Law reports,” he said.

The directive will now undergo legal finalisation before being put to a formal vote in the European Parliament and the Council. Once adopted, Member States will be required to transpose the new rules into national law within a set implementation period.