site.btaEC Issues Updates on Five Infringement Procedures against Bulgaria

The European Commission presented on Friday updates on five infringement procedures against Bulgaria concerning energy, money laundering, drugs, consumer rights and environmental protection.

The European Commission decided to open infringement procedures by sending a letter of formal notice to Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Germany, Estonia, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Cyprus, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania and Finland for failing to fully notify national measures transposing certain provisions of the sixth Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Directive by July 10. The provisions would allow the Member Statese to provide access to beneficial ownership registers for competent authorities, self-regulatory bodies, obliged entities and for persons with a legitimate interest. The gradual implementation of the sixth AML Directive is essential to addressing weaknesses in the Union's financial system and to ensuring that all Member States consistently and effectively apply their anti-money laundering rules.  Confidence of investors and the general public in financial markets depends largely on an accurate disclosure system that ensures transparency in the beneficial ownership and control structures of companies. Accurate and up-to-date information on beneficial owners is also crucial for law enforcement authorities. To date, 18 Member States have not declared full transposition of the aforementioned articles by the legal deadline. The Commission is therefore sending letters of formal notice to all Member States concerned, which now have two months to complete their transposition and notify their measures to the Commission. In the absence of a satisfactory response, the Commission may decide to issue a reasoned opinion.

The EC decided to open infringement procedures by sending a  letter of formal notice to Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia and Slovakia for failing to communicate the complete transposition of Commission Delegated Directive 2025/2062. The Directive adds three new psychoactive substances (2-MMC, NEP and 4-BMC) to the EU definition of a “drug”. This means that these substances will be covered by the EU rules on criminal offences and penalties for illicit drug trafficking, helping to harmonise national controls, strengthen cross-border law-enforcement and judicial cooperation. The nine Member States have not communicated their national measures transposing the Commission Delegated Directive to the Commission by the set deadline of 12 July 2026.

The EC decided to open infringement procedures by sending a letter of formal notice to Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Estonia, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia and Sweden for failing to communicate the complete transposition of the Right to Repair Directive by July 31. The Directive encourages sustainable consumption by making it easier to repair products instead of replacing them. It gives consumers the right to request repairs for products such as smartphones, washing machines or refrigerators, even after the legal guarantee has expired. Manufacturers must offer repairs at a reasonable price, within a reasonable timeframe, and provide clear information on their repair services. In doing so, the Directive helps consumers save money, reduce waste, extend the lifecycle of their products, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Commission has also decided to open infringement procedures by sending a letter of formal notice to Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Estonia, Spain, France, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Finland and Sweden for failing to communicate the complete transposition of the Delegated Directive (EU) 2026/74 amending the Right to Repair Directive. The Delegated Directive extends the scope of the Right to Repair to include domestic indoor heaters, such as fireplaces, portable electric heaters, or floor heaters.

The EC decided to open infringement procedures by sending a letter of formal notice to Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland and Sweden for failing to notify measures fully transposing the Industrial and Livestock Rearing Emissions Directive by July 1. Industrial activities play an essential role in the EU's economy, but they can also be a significant source of pollution while generating waste and consuming large amounts of energy. This is why, since 2010, the former Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) has been addressing the environmental and human health effects of over 50,000 industrial installations by requiring the use of best available techniques and compliance with emission level ranges. The updated Directive on industrial and livestock rearing emissions increases this ambition by promoting innovation and transformation through the most effective viable emissions reduction techniques. In particular, it tightens rules on reducing emissions, aims to reduce the use of hazardous chemicals and extends the scope of the former IED. Additionally, it strengthens the rights of the public and creates a new right to seek compensation for damage to health caused by illegal pollution.

The European Commission decided to open infringement procedures by sending a letter of formal notice to Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland and Sweden for failure to communicate the full transposition of the recast Hydrogen and Decarbonised Gas Directive by August 5. The new Directive and Regulation update the rules on the EU natural gas market. They also introduce a regulatory framework for dedicated hydrogen infrastructure. The rules aim to facilitate the uptake of renewable and low-carbon gases, including hydrogen, while ensuring security of supply and affordability of energy for all EU citizens.