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 Union (EU) law is a set of rules that all 27 member states must follow to ensure consistency, fairness, and cooperation across the EU. These laws cover areas like trade, environment, employment, digital services, and fundamental rights. The European Commission is responsible for making sure these laws are properly implemented by member states.

This resolution is part of the EU’s ongoing effort to monitor and enforce these laws. The annual monitoring report has been a tradition for over 40 years, helping to track how well member states are complying with EU rules. The European Parliament is pushing for more transparency, better data, and faster action when laws are not followed.

The infringement procedure is a legal tool the Commission uses to address violations of EU law by member states. It can lead to financial penalties or other sanctions if a country fails to comply.

Impact on people living in the EU

For EU citizens, this resolution means:

• Stronger protection of rights: The Parliament wants better enforcement of laws related to child protection, media freedom, anti-racism, and gender equality, ensuring that fundamental rights are respected across all member states.

• More transparency: Citizens will have easier access to clear, open, and comparable data on how their country is implementing EU laws. This helps people understand whether their government is meeting its obligations.

• Faster resolution of issues: The Parliament is urging the Commission to act quicker on complaints from citizens, NGOs, and businesses about member states not following EU law. This could lead to faster solutions for problems like environmental violations, unfair trade practices, or labor rights issues.

• Better use of technology: The EU aims to use AI and digital tools to improve monitoring and enforcement, but with clear rules to ensure fairness and transparency.

• Economic benefits: Proper implementation of EU laws, especially in areas like trade, energy, and the environment, can help avoid costs (e.g., the €180 billion annual cost of not implementing environmental laws) and support businesses and workers.

• Support for member states: The Commission is encouraged to provide training, resources, and digital tools to help countries implement EU laws correctly and on time, which can improve services and protections for citizens.