The European Commission has launched formal infringement procedures against three EU member states — Belgium, Bulgaria, and Slovenia — for failing to fully align their national laws with new European Union rules criminalizing violations of EU sanctions.
According to the Commission, the three countries have delayed transposing a directive adopted in 2024, which requires member states to introduce criminal penalties for evading or breaching EU restrictive measures.
“The Commission calls on Belgium, Bulgaria and Slovenia to implement the directive on the criminalisation of violations of EU sanctions,” Brussels said in an official statement.
Two-Month Deadline to Respond
The Commission noted that the countries have not provided sufficient evidence that they have adopted the necessary national measures, prompting Brussels to initiate the first stage of the infringement procedure.
As part of the process, Belgium, Bulgaria, and Slovenia have been given two months to respond and inform the Commission about the steps they have taken to comply with EU law.
If the countries fail to act within the deadline, the Commission may refer the case to the Court of Justice of the European Union, which has the authority to impose financial penalties.
Rising Tensions Over EU Sanctions
The issue of sanctions has recently intensified political tensions within the European Union, particularly over measures targeting Russia.
Most recently, Viktor Orbán, the prime minister of Hungary, blocked approval of the 20th EU sanctions package against Russia and a €90-billion loan proposal for Ukraine.
Orbán argued the move came after Kyiv suspended part of the infrastructure of the Druzhba oil pipeline, a decision he described as a violation of agreements with the EU.
The Commission has also confirmed a temporary suspension of oil supplies to Ukraine from Hungary and Slovakia, further complicating the energy and political landscape across the region.
