The number of infringement proceedings was up sharply in 2016 (+21%) compared to 2015, according to the annual report on the application of European Union law, published by the European Commission on Thursday 6 July.
In 2016, the European Commission launched 986 new infringement proceedings and sent out 292 reasoned opinions. In all, there are 1,657 infringement proceedings open, the highest level in the last five years, the European Commission laments, noting that 2016 was an 'annus horribilis', with a 21% hike compared to the previous year. In a press release, the Commission notes that this is worrying, as the absence of correct application of EU law prevents citizens from benefiting from the rights and advantages that this law confers upon them.
The transposition of directives – the Achilles heel of the single market. More specifically, the institution explains that the number of infringement proceedings over delays in transposing directives (847) has almost doubled compared to the previous year, when the Commission launched 543 proceedings. The institution targeted member states for failing to transpose, for instance, the directives on public procurement and concessions (directive 2014/23, 2014/24/EU and 2014/25/EU), those concerning tobacco products (directive 2014/40/EU and 2014/109/EU) and the directive on driving licences (directive 2014/85/EU).
Germany and Spain bottom of the class. This time, the European Commission presented a summary sheet giving an overview of the situation at European level, country by country. This scoreboard is very telling. For instance, as of 31 December 2016, the European Commission had 30 infringement proceedings open against Estonia and 31 against Malta - the two member states that would hold the Presidency of the Council of the EU in 2017. At the other end of the scale were Germany and Spain, with 91 infringement proceedings.
Portugal was the member state against which the Commission launch the highest number of infringement proceedings in 2016 (50), followed by Belgium, then Austria (47). Italy and Slovakia showed the lowest level of progression, with just 19 new infringement proceedings in 2016.
Single market scoreboard 2017. The Commission has also published a specific score board for the single market. The best results across all areas were achieved by Austria, Denmark, Estonia, Lithuania, Malta and Slovakia. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)