Agreement reached on the first EU-wide criminal law rules against corruption 

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament.

• EU-wide definitions of corruption offences 
• Common rules for sanctions and national strategies 
• Stronger cooperation across national authorities and EU bodies, annual publication of corruption data  

MEPs secured new EU measures for the more effective prevention and prosecution of corruption, including reinforced cooperation and greater transparency.

On Tuesday evening, Parliament and Council negotiators reached a provisional agreement on the EU’s first ever directive harmonising criminal laws to fight corruption, strengthening efforts to prevent, prosecute and punish offences across the EU.

A more coherent EU approach to address emerging corruption risks

By establishing EU-wide definitions, sanctions, and clearer operational rules, the directive will help address situations where offenders exploit differences between national systems.

During the negotiations, Parliament ensured that EU-wide corruption data will be published annually in accessible formats, improving transparency and supporting evidence-based policymaking. As per Parliament’s demands, the directive also requires every member state to publish a national anti-corruption strategy, developed in consultation with civil society and the relevant authorities.

Stronger tools for deterrence

The directive sets harmonised definitions for offences such as bribery, misappropriation of funds, and obstruction of justice. The new rules also establish a common level for maximum prison sentences across the EU, while allowing each country to legislate for stricter penalties. This approach ensures deterrence, while also preserving judicial discretion and national prerogatives to punish offenders in line with the gravity of their crimes.

It reinforces cooperation among national authorities and EU bodies including the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, Europol and Eurojust. The negotiators also agreed on rules on liability of legal persons and better alignment with legislation protecting EU financial interests.

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Following the concluding trilogue, Parliament’s rapporteur Raquel García Hermida-van der Walle (Renew, NL) said: “Tonight we achieved a breakthrough for citizens expecting the EU to improve their lives, and the first significant step forward in years to strengthen the rule of law. People and businesses will benefit from clearer, more consistent rules, regardless of where they are in our Union. Parliament entered these negotiations with ambition and got a win for Europe – and we will be prepared to go further when the member states are ready to take the next steps.”

Next steps

The provisional agreement must now be formally approved by Parliament and the Council before entering into force.

Background

On 3 May 2023, the Commission presented an anti-corruption package, including a proposal for a directive. Based on Article 83 TFEU, the text defined corruption as one of the ‘areas of particularly serious crime with a cross-border dimension’ and included measures to enhance both preventing and combating corruption. According to the 2025 Eurobarometer survey on citizens’ attitudes towards corruption, 69% of Europeans believe that corruption is widespread in their country, while two-thirds think that high-level corruption cases are not pursued sufficiently.