The Commission has adopted its Annual Report on how it monitors the application of EU law in 2014.
The 32nd Annual Report on Monitoring the Application of EU Law reviews Member States’ performance on key aspects of the application of EU law and highlights the main enforcement policy developments of 2014.
The Commission launches infringement procedures when a Member State does not resolve an alleged breach of Union law. The Commission opens infringement procedures when a Member State has not notified the measures transposing a directive into national law within the agreed deadline. The Commission can also open an infringement procedure on the basis of a Commission investigation or a complaint by individual citizens or businesses when a country’s legislation is not in line with the requirements of EU legislation or when Union law is not applied correctly or at all by national authorities.
Overall, the number of formal infringement procedures has decreased in the last five years. The Commission considers that this reflects the effectiveness of the structured dialogue with Member States via EU Pilot before a formal infringement procedure is launched. The Commission has stated that it also reflects the Commission’s determination to work with the Member States in improving compliance at an early stage and resolving potential infringements quickly, to the benefit of citizens and businesses.
As in 2013, environment, transport and internal market and services remain the policy areas in which most infringement cases were open in 2014.
Report on 2014 infringements: Commission enforces correct implementation of EU law (press release)
