The anti-corruption directive, the first EU-wide criminal law framework to combat corruption, sets out common rules for offences such as bribery, misappropriation, and illicit enrichment, as well as harmonising rules on sanctions.
When: Thursday 26 March, 12:00 – 12:30 CET
Where: European Parliament in Brussels, Spaak building, Anna Politkovskaya press conference room – 0A50
How: Accredited journalists can attend the press conference in person. Those wishing to participate actively and ask questions remotely can do so via Interactio. Before connecting, check the guidelines and recommendations for remote speakers. The press conference will be livestreamed and recorded via Parliament’s Multimedia Centre.
Background
The directive, which was provisionally agreed by Parliament and Council in in December 2025 and approved by the Civil Liberties Committee in January 2026, lays down common definitions for corruption offences, harmonised penalties, and preventive obligations for member states. It establishes EU-wide rules on both criminal and non-criminal penalties for a range of offences, including bribery, misappropriation, obstruction of justice, trading in influence, unlawful exercise of functions, corruption-related illicit enrichment, concealment, and private sector bribery. In doing so, it seeks to reduce disparities between national legal systems and tackle enforcement gaps, especially in cross-border cases.
Member states will have to adopt national anti-corruption strategies and make relevant data available in comparable formats. The new rules will also strengthen cooperation between national authorities and key EU bodies, including the anti-fraud office OLAF, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, Europol, and Eurojust.
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