On 21 April 2026, the Council of the European Union gave its final approval to a new anti-corruption directive (the “Directive”) designed to make national rules more consistent across the EU by aligning how corruption offences are defined and punished across Member States, in both the public and private sectors.
The Directive sets a harmonised EU baseline for key corruption offences, including public and private bribery, misappropriation, trading in influence, obstruction of justice, enrichment from corruption offences, concealment and certain serious violations linked to the unlawful exercise of public function.
Member States must set minimum common penalty standards, with the intention that maximum penalties are not set too low. Depending on the offence, individuals could face imprisonment of three to five years. Corporate penalties may include fines calculated at 3% to 5% of total worldwide turnover or fixed sums between EUR 24 million and EUR 40 million, depending on the offence.
In addition to enforcement measures, Member States must put in place structures dedicated to preventing corruption and promoting integrity through public awareness.
The Directive enters into force 20 days after publication with a 24‑month transposition period, extended to 36 months for risk assessment and national strategy requirements.
