site.btaEuropean Parliament Approves Common Definitions and Penalties for Corruption Across EU

The European Parliament (EP) has adopted common European rules and penalties for corruption-related offences. The changes to EU legislation were provisionally agreed with the Council of the EU, the EP said in a statement here on Thursday. 

Harmonised definitions of corruption offences will be introduced, including bribery, misappropriation, obstruction of justice, trading in influence, unlawful exercise of functions, illicit enrichment linked to corruption, concealment of such offences, and corruption in the private sector. EU member states will retain the right to adopt stricter rules than the common European framework, the statement added.

The measures also provides for increased cooperation between national authorities and EU bodies, including the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, Europol, and Eurojust. EU countries will submit comparable data annually to improve transparency and evidence-based policymaking. They will be required to adopt and regularly update national anti-corruption strategies, ensure effective mechanisms to prevent conflicts of interest, provide transparency in political financing, and uphold integrity standards.

The new legislative texts are pending further approval by the Council of the EU. After that, member states will have 24 months to implement the changes. The statement cites a 2025 Eurobarometer survey, according to which 69% of Europeans consider corruption to be widespread in their country, while 66% say that high-level corruption cases are not investigated sufficiently.