Bulgaria could face fines for failing to comply with two EU directives

The European Commission has launched two procedures against Bulgaria for failing to comply with its obligations under EU law, the institution reported.

The first case concerns Bulgaria’s failure to fully transpose the Directive on information exchange between law enforcement authorities, which aims to strengthen the prevention, detection, and investigation of criminal offences in the European Union.

The European Commission also decided to send reasoned opinion to Bulgaria for failing to notify the Commission of any measures to incorporate the Directive on criminalizing the violation of Union restrictive measures. This directive seeks to prevent the circumvention of Union restrictive measures, including those adopted following Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.

Bulgaria has two months to respond and take the necessary measures. Otherwise, the European Commission may decide to refer the cases to the Court of Justice of the European Union with requests to impose financial sanctions.

Edited by Diana Tsankova

Translated by Kostadin Atanasov