site.btaEC Initiates Three New Infringement Procedures Against Bulgaria

On Thursday, the European Commission announced launching new infringement procedures against EU member states, including Bulgaria, for delays in transposing European legislation. For Bulgaria, the Commission has initiated three procedures over breaches related to the enforcement of European sanctions, transport safety, and the promotion of renewable energy.

Renewable energy

Commission calls on Bulgaria and 25 more Member States to transpose the reinforced rules to promote renewable energy. Member States had to notify the transposition of the provisions of the amending EU Directive 2023/2413 into national law by May 21, 2025, except for some provisions related to permitting, which were already due by July 1, 2024.

The new rules aim to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy in all sectors of the economy, not only in the power sector, but also and especially in those sectors where progress is more difficult like heating and cooling, buildings, transport and industry, where we have also set new or strengthened targets. They set important horizontal and cross-cutting measures to promote the deployment of renewables, such as the strengthening of guarantees of origin, facilitating energy system integration through the promotion of electrification and renewable hydrogen, and safeguards to ensure a more sustainable bioenergy production. The implementation of the legislation is instrumental to accelerate the roll-out of homegrown clean energy, to further reduce GHG emissions in the energy sector - which currently contributes over 75% of total GHG emissions in the Union, and to strengthen energy security. It will also contribute to lowering energy prices and enhancing the competitiveness of the EU economy.

The Commission has sent letters of formal notice to Bulgaria, Belgium, Czechia, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland and Sweden. To date, only Denmark notified full transposition of the Directive by the legal deadline.

Sanctions Enforcement

Commission calls on Bulgaria and 17 more Member States to fully transpose the Directive criminalizing the violation of Union restrictive measures (EU Directive 2024/1226). The Directive establishes common rules harmonizing the definition of criminal offences and penalties for the violation of Union restrictive measures. It seeks to prevent the circumvention of EU sanctions, including those adopted following the Russian aggression against Ukraine. Harmonizing national criminal law in this field will facilitate the investigation and prosecution of violations of EU sanctions in all Member States, making EU restrictive measures more effective.

In addition to Bulgaria, the Commission has sent formal letters to Belgium, Czechia, Germany, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Hungary, Malta, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania and Slovenia.

Transport of Dangerous Goods

Commission urges Bulgaria and 8 more Member States to provide full notification of the measures updating rules on transporting dangerous goods by road, rail, and inland waterways (EU Directive 2025/149). The EU has updated its rules for the safe transportation of dangerous goods by land, aligning them with the latest international standards and scientific research. This new Directive applies to all domestic and international transport operations within the EU and aims to ensure a consistent and high level of safety. The Directive modernizes EU regulations for the inland transportation of dangerous goods, covering both international and domestic operations within the EU, to reflect the latest scientific and technical advancements. By aligning EU laws with recent updates to international agreements and regulations, the Directive ensures a harmonized framework for the safe transport of hazardous materials. With a transposition deadline of 30 June 2025, Member States were required to incorporate the Directive's provisions into their national legislation. Alongside Bulgaria, formal letters have been sent to Belgium, Cyprus, Czechia, Finland, Malta, Poland, Portugal, and Slovenia.

The Member States concerned have two months to respond, 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.