European Commission launches infringement procedures against several member states

TALLINN – The European Commission has launched infringement procedures against member states that have failed to timely transpose directives on energy efficiency, renewable energy, financial markets, and the energy performance of buildings.

The Commission has launched an infringement procedure and sent a letter of formal notice to 26 member states, including Estonia, for failing to notify the European Commission of the complete transposition of the recast Energy Efficiency Directive.

The directive was adopted in 2023. Member states were required to notify the transposition of the directive by October 11 of this year, with the exception of some specific provisions, such as those on reporting, which had specific deadlines. To date, only Czechia has notified the complete transposition of the directive by the deadline. Therefore, the Commission has sent letters of formal notice to the remaining 26 member states.

The Commission has initiated an infringement procedure and sent a letter of formal notice to 15 member states, including Estonia, for not fully transposing the amendments made to Annex IX of the Renewable Energy Directive by a delegated directive. Annex IX lists feedstocks used primarily for the production of biogas and advanced biofuels, as well as other biofuels and biogas.

The amendments were to be transposed by September 14. To date, 15 member states have not notified the complete transposition of the amendments to Annex IX of the Renewable Energy Directive by the set deadline.

The Commission has initiated an infringement procedure and sent a letter of formal notice to 13 member states, including Estonia, for failing to fully transpose the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive. Member states were required to transpose the directive by September 29.

The Commission has initiated an infringement procedure and sent letters of formal notice to Estonia, Italy, and Hungary for not fully transposing Article 17(15) of the recast Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. The directive has two transposition deadlines. While the main deadline is May 29, 2026, provisions requiring member states to cease offering financial incentives for the installation of stand-alone fossil fuel-powered boilers, in accordance with Article 17(15), had to be transposed into national law by January 1, 2025.

Having reviewed the measures notified and explanations provided by Estonia, Italy, and Hungary, the Commission has concluded that these three member states have not fully implemented the provisions in question.

The Commission sent a reasoned opinion to Estonia and Poland, and a supplementary letter of formal notice to Hungary regarding the incorrect implementation of certain provisions of the Directive on attacks against information systems. The directive is a key part of the European Union's legal framework for combating cybercrime and requires member states to strengthen their cybercrime legislation and establish criminal penalties, including for large-scale cyberattacks.

The Commission found that Estonia, Hungary, and Poland have not properly transposed certain measures set out in the directive into their national law, particularly concerning provisions on illegal interception or the means used to commit certain offenses under the directive.

The countries have two months to respond, complete the transposition, and notify the Commission.