Making Sure EU Laws Are Actually Followed

Why it matters

• EU law protects citizens, keeps the single market working, and gives the EU credibility.
• Member states must turn EU rules into national law, apply them correctly, and do so on time.
• The Parliament wants the Commission to keep a clear, yearly record of how well this is happening – a practice that has existed for more than 40 years.

Main complaints

• Missing 2024 report – the Commission did not publish its usual annual monitoring report.
• Too much focus on “simplification” – the 2025 overview talks mainly about making rules simpler, but the Parliament wants a balanced view that also looks at enforcement.
• Inadequate data – data on infringement cases (open, closed, started) is incomplete or hard to read.
• Slow implementation – on average, member states take almost 12 months longer than the deadline to transpose directives.
• Too many “delegated” rules – rules made by the Commission after the main rule is adopted make compliance harder.
• Limited use of AI and digital tools – the Parliament wants responsible, transparent use of technology, especially AI in decision‑making.

What the Parliament wants the Commission to do

1. Publish a yearly, country‑by‑country report on EU law application.
2. Make the data open, easy to read, and comparable across member states and policy areas.
3. Explain the methods used to collect and analyse the data.
4. Use “pre‑infringement” talks more often and give clear timelines.
5. Treat infringement cases transparently – publish criteria for pursuing cases, status of open cases, and outcomes.
6. Act on complaints from citizens, NGOs, and businesses by investigating and, if needed, starting infringement cases.
7. Strengthen enforcement of fundamental rights (child protection, media freedom, anti‑racism).
8. Improve the “Europa” platform so it shows explanations of why a case is open or closed.
9. Limit the use of delegated acts that add extra technical detail after the main rule is adopted.
10. Support member states with training, resources, and digital tools to implement EU law faster and more accurately.

Key numbers highlighted

• Closed infringement cases: 1 030 (2023), 535 (2024), 345 (Jan‑Jul 2025).
• Open infringement cases: 1 461 (2023), 1 493 (2024), 1 559 (Jan‑Jul 2025).
• New infringement cases: 528 (2023), 567 (2024).
• Average delay in transposing directives: 11.9 months (2023).
• Environmental implementation gap cost: €180 bn per year.
• RRF funds disbursed by end‑2023: ~33 %.

Sector‑specific concerns

• Trade – need clear application dates; delays hurt EU businesses and credibility.
• Employment – the minimum‑wage directive must be fully adopted; monitor partial transpositions.
• Environment – publish yearly dashboards for each country; non‑implementation costs €180 bn.
• Energy – many infringement cases arise from incomplete implementation; coordinate enforcement, monitoring, and support.
• Digital services – keep a dedicated unit to enforce the Digital Services Act and work with national coordinators.
• Agriculture – ensure CAP funds are used correctly and fraud is prevented.
• Media & culture – improve implementation and monitoring of the Media Freedom Act and Creative Europe programme.
• Internal market – guard against unfair practices that bypass EU rules, especially for creators and small businesses.
• Asylum & migration – report on rule application.
• Gender equality & youth – provide detailed data on the gender equality strategy, Accessibility Act, and youth strategy.

Bottom line
The Parliament is telling the Commission to keep the yearly monitoring report, make the data clear and comparable, act faster and more transparently when a member state fails to follow EU law—especially on fundamental rights—use technology responsibly, and support member states so they can implement EU law on time and correctly while holding them accountable when they do not.

Broader context

The European Parliament’s April 2026 resolution is part of an ongoing effort to make sure that EU law actually works in practice, not just on paper. Under the EU treaties, Member States must transpose EU directives into national law and apply all EU rules on time, while the European Commission acts as the “guardian of the Treaties” by tracking compliance and launching enforcement actions if needed. For over 40 years, the Commission has published an annual monitoring report on how well each country follows EU law; this resolution criticises the fact that the 2024 report was not published, which the Parliament sees as a break in an important democratic and transparency tool. europarl.europa

The context also includes wider debates about the simplification of EU law, the use of digital tools and AI in administration, and concerns about the rule of law and fundamental rights in some countries. The Parliament refers to high‑level reports (like those by Draghi and Letta) and stresses that good implementation is key to the single market, competitiveness, and public trust in the EU. In short, this resolution sits inside a bigger picture: more rules at EU level, but also a growing need to make sure they are clear, simple, and properly enforced on the ground. europarl.europa

How the enforcement system works

EU law is enforced mainly through infringement procedures: if a country is late or does things wrong, the Commission can send letters, set deadlines, and, if needed, bring the case to the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU), which can impose fines. The numbers the Parliament highlights show that hundreds of cases are opened and closed each year, but the number of open cases is slowly rising, and environment law is the area with the most disputes. The Parliament complains that the Commission sometimes waits too long to start legal cases, and wants clearer, published criteria for which breaches are treated as priorities. europarl.europa

There is also a pre‑infringement phase (often called “EU Pilot”), where the Commission talks informally with national authorities before starting a formal case. The Parliament wants this process to be faster, time‑bound, and more transparent, so that problems can be fixed before they turn into long court battles. europarl.europa

Impact on people living in the EU

For people living in the EU, the way EU law is monitored and enforced directly affects their rights, everyday life, and how much they can trust that “Europe works” in practice. If rules are not transposed or applied correctly, people can face weaker consumer protection, poorer environmental standards, lower safety online, or unfair treatment across borders, even though strong EU laws exist on paper. europarl.europa

Everyday rights and protections

• Fundamental rights and safety: The Parliament stresses child protection, media freedom, and anti‑racism, asking the Commission to act faster when these rights are undermined. This can mean stronger enforcement of rules against child sexual abuse online, hate speech, and racial discrimination, which directly affects safety and dignity in daily life. europarl.europa
• Environment and climate: The Parliament points out that the cost of not applying environmental rules is about €180 billion per year in lost benefits. Better monitoring means that national governments are more likely to enforce clean‑air, nature‑protection, and climate rules, which can lead to cleaner air, safer water, and more predictable climate action. europarl.europa
• Digital life and platforms: The Parliament wants a dedicated unit to enforce the Digital Services Act and better coordination with national authorities. In practice, this could mean fewer illegal or harmful content platforms, more transparent algorithms, and stronger rights for online users and creators. europarl.europa

Business and market life

• Single market and trade: Delays in transposing EU directives mean that different countries apply the same rules at different times, creating an uneven playing field. Faster and more transparent enforcement helps small and medium businesses compete fairly across the EU and reduces legal uncertainty for companies operating in several countries. europarl.europa
• EU funding and fraud: The Parliament notes that the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is the biggest EU budget item and stresses proper use of funds and fraud prevention. If implementation is better monitored, farmers and regions can receive money more smoothly, while taxpayers’ money is better protected against misuse. europarl.europa

Democratic participation and transparency

The Parliament strongly links effective monitoring with democracy and trust. By asking the Commission to publish clear, open, and country‑by‑country reports, it wants citizens to be able to see how well their own country is doing, hold national governments to account, and reduce the space for misinformation about the EU. Petitions and complaints from citizens are also highlighted as key sources for spotting problems, which means that ordinary people, NGOs, and businesses can indirectly help trigger enforcement actions when they report breaches. movimentoeuropeo

Possible implications for people outside the EU

Even though the resolution focuses on EU Member States, its effects can reach people outside the EU, mainly through trade and digital platforms. europarl.europa

• Global companies on EU rules: Digital‑services companies and exporters that serve the EU market must respect EU rules such as the Digital Services Act, environmental standards, and product‑safety rules. If the Commission enforces these rules more transparently and consistently, it can shape how foreign firms design their products, services, and online platforms for EU users, often influencing global norms. europarl.europa
• Global standards and reputation: When the EU is seen as applying its own rules reliably, it gains credibility in international negotiations on trade, climate, and digital governance. This can encourage other countries or regions to adopt similar standards, especially in areas like environmental protection, consumer rights, and online safety. europarl.europa

In short, this resolution is not about creating new laws, but about making sure existing EU laws are followed on time, transparently, and fairly, which affects both how people in the EU experience their rights and how the EU shapes rules that can indirectly influence people outside its borders. europarl.europa