site.btaEC Presents Update on Seven Infringement Procedures Involving Bulgaria

The European Commission (EC) on Wednesday presented an update on the progress of seven infringement procedures involving Bulgaria. These concern abusive lawsuits aimed at silencing journalists and civil society, conditions for receiving migrants, roadside inspections, securities and the functioning of the internal market.

The Commission has opened infringement procedures against Bulgaria, Czechia, Germany, Ireland, Greece, Spain, Italy, Luxembourg, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Romania and Slovakia for failing to notify the full transposition of EU rules protecting against strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs). Such lawsuits involve the abusive use of legal proceedings to silence activities carried out in the public interest, the Commission said. Those targeted may include journalists, human rights defenders and civil society organizations.

The EU rules provide safeguards against manifestly unfounded claims or abusive court proceedings by allowing courts to dismiss such cases at an early stage. EU member states were required to transpose the rules by May 7. The Commission has now given the countries two months to respond, after which it may decide to proceed with the infringement procedures.

The Commission also opened infringement procedures against Bulgaria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Greece, Cyprus, Latvia, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Romania and Sweden for failing to notify the full transposition of rules on roadside inspections of vehicles carrying dangerous goods. Member states had until June 23 to amend their national legislation. The 14 countries now have two months to respond before the Commission decides on further action.

The Commission launched procedures against 16 member states - Bulgaria, Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Spain, France, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Austria, Slovenia and Sweden - for failing to notify the full transposition of rules on reception conditions for people seeking international protection. The deadline expired on June 12. The Commission has given the countries two months to respond before deciding on the next steps.

The Commission is also continuing infringement procedures against 17 member states - Bulgaria, Belgium, Germany, France, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Finland and Sweden - for failing to meet the deadline for transposing revised EU rules on labour migration for workers from non-EU countries. The amendments reduce to 90 days the maximum time allowed for decisions on applications for access to the EU labour market. The transposition deadline expired on May 21, and the Commission may decide after two months whether to continue the procedures.

The Commission has opened procedures against Bulgaria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia and Finland for failing to fully transpose amendments concerning undertakings for collective investment in transferable securities (UCITS) and investment firms. The deadline expired on June 25, and 21 member states have yet to notify the required changes to their national legislation. The Commission will decide after two months whether to proceed with the infringement procedures.

The Commission also opened infringement procedures against Bulgaria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Greece, France, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Finland and Sweden for failing to notify the full transposition of EU rules on emergency conformity assessment procedures for goods, the presumption of conformity, the adoption of common specifications and market surveillance in relation to emergencies affecting the internal market. The rules are intended to ensure the uninterrupted movement of essential goods, services and people during crises. The Commission will decide after two months whether to continue the proceedings.

Finally, the Commission opened infringement procedures against Bulgaria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Cyprus, Hungary, Latvia, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania and Slovenia for failing to fully transpose rules aimed at improving access to capital for smaller companies. Member states that had not implemented the amendments by June 5 have two months to reply to the Commission, after which the procedures may continue, the statement said.