EU Adopts New Anti-Corruption Law Across Member States

The new directive replaces 2 previous laws and aims to harmonise the approach taken by member states across the EU.

Key updates include:

➡️ Harmonised Offences: The directive aligns key corruption offences across Member States, including public and private sector bribery, misappropriation, trading in influence, obstruction of justice, concealment and enrichment from corruption offences;

➡️ Aligned Penalties: Member States must introduce common minimum penalty levels, with prison sentences ranging from three to five years depending on the offence;

➡️ Corporate Liability: Companies may face fines ranging from 3% to 5% of total worldwide turnover, or from €24 million to €40 million, depending on the offence;

➡️ Prevention Measures: Member States must establish specialised bodies to prevent corruption and raise public awareness to support a culture of integrity; and

➡️ Implementation Timeline: The directive enters into force 20 days after publication in the Official Journal, with Member States given 24 months to transpose most provisions into national law.

✅ Firms operating in the EU should review anti-bribery and corruption frameworks and investigation procedures to assess readiness for more harmonised enforcement expectations.

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