European Parliament Approves First EU-Wide Anti-Corruption Rules

In a landmark move on Thursday, the European Parliament approved new EU-wide rules establishing a harmonised criminal law framework to combat corruption across the Union. Adopted with 581 votes in favour, 21 against, and 42 abstentions, the directive sets common definitions for corruption offences—including bribery, misappropriation, illicit enrichment, trading in influence, obstruction of justice, and private-sector corruption—and aligns sanctions across member states.

The framework modernises existing rules to close enforcement gaps, particularly in cross-border cases, by setting EU-wide statutory maximum penalties while allowing countries to adopt stricter measures where needed. Cooperation between national authorities and EU agencies, such as OLAF, Europol, Eurojust, and the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, will be strengthened, with improved data-sharing and transparency measures including the publication of machine-readable, comparable national data.

Member states will also be required to implement national anti-corruption strategies, conduct regular risk assessments, and ensure independent oversight bodies are in place to prevent and tackle corruption effectively.

Parliament’s lead negotiator, Raquel García Hermida-van der Walle (Renew, NL), hailed the legislation as “historic,” warning that corruption “drains billions from our economies, erodes trust in government, and undermines democracy itself. Left unchecked, it threatens the very foundation of our Union. This law is about defending Europe.”

The new rules mark the first time the EU has created a uniform criminal law approach to corruption, reflecting a growing commitment to transparency, accountability, and cross-border cooperation in the fight against financial crime.