On April 21, 2026, the Council of the European Union approved the first European directive dedicated to combating corruption, which was initially proposed by the European Commission on May 3, 2023.
This ambitious text aims to introduce a harmonized regulatory framework for acts of corruption, accompanied by a system of strict penalties, while strengthening cooperation mechanisms between national and European authorities. It also provides for increased liability of legal entities, particularly in cases of failure to supervise or exercise control.
The directive will replace the Council Framework Decision on combating corruption in the private sector, as well as the 1997 European Act on corruption involving EU officials.
The directive will enter into force twenty days after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. Member States have two years from the date of entry into force of the directive to transpose its main provisions.
