NEWS: EU to harmonise anti-corruption laws, offenders face up to five years in prison

Regulatory Watch News

• 

  Council adopts new EU-wide law to combat corruption

  European Council

  April 21, 2026

  Today, the Council gave the final go-ahead to a new EU law that harmonises the definition of corruption across member states and establishes a common level of penalties to sanction such offences. With measures to prevent corruption and rules to strengthen investigation and prosecution, the law will reinforce the fight against corruption both in the public and private sector. This new EU directive will replace two existing EU laws: one law from 2003 on corruption in the private sector, and an EU Convention from 1997 on corruption involving EU officials and officials of EU member states.

• 

  Europol and partners track down 45 forcibly transferred Ukrainian children

  Europol

  April 20, 2026

  On 16 and 17 April 2026, Europol together with the Netherlands hosted a coordinated effort to identify and trace children forcibly transferred or deported to the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus. In total, information about 45 children was uncovered and shared with Ukrainian authorities to assist their ongoing investigations. This initiative saw 40 experts from 18 countries, the International Criminal Court as well as non-governmental partners working together in The Hague. The participating open-source intelligence experts compiled 45 reports which include valuable information potentially leading to the locations of deported children

• 

  First indictment in investigation Nimmersatt: Car traders charged in scheme to smuggle hazardous salvage vehicles from US

  European Public Prosecutor's Office

  April 20, 2026

  (Luxembourg, 20 April 2026) – The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Berlin (Germany) has filed an indictment against three car traders, following an investigation into a criminal organisation importing salvage vehicles from the United States (US) and reselling them after cosmetic repair, while evading custom duties and VAT. The criminal scheme also poses serious dangers for road safety in Europe.