Commission takes action to ensure complete and timely transposition of EU directives - key decisions on energy

The European Commission is taking action against several EU countries that have failed to notify the Commission of measures they have adopted to transpose EU Directives into their national laws. The deadline to transpose these Directives has expired recently. The countries in question have failed to fully transpose EU directives. The Commission is urging them to take immediate action to bring their laws in line with EU requirements. The Commission is sending a letter of formal notice to these countries, giving them 2 months to reply and complete the transposition of the Directives. If they fail to do so, the Commission may pass to a next step and issue a reasoned opinion.

Commission calls on EU countries to transpose EU rules improving the EU's electricity market design with regard to the free choice of supplier and the right to energy sharing
The Commission decided to open infringement procedures by sending a letter of formal notice to Belgium, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Finland and Sweden for failure to communicate the full transposition of the new electricity market design rules on free choice of supplier and right to energy sharing set out in Directive (EU) 2024/1711. Directive (EU) 2024/1711 amends former Electricity Directives (Directives (EU) 2018/2001 and (EU) 2019/944) with the aim of improving the EU's electricity market design. EU countries had to notify the transposition of the provisions on free choice of supplier (amended Article 4) and the right to energy sharing (new Article 15a) by 17 July 2026. These provisions intend to strengthen consumers' position in the electricity market by expanding their ability to choose and switch suppliers, access more competitive and innovative offers, and participate more actively in the energy system. To date, 18 EU countries have not yet notified full transposition of these provisions by the legal deadline. The Commission is therefore sending letters of formal notice to these countries. They now have 2 months to respond, complete their transposition and notify the Commission. In the absence of a satisfactory response, the Commission may decide to issue a reasoned opinion.

Commission calls on EU countries to transpose the rules on the hydrogen and decarbonised gas market
The Commission decided to open infringement procedures by sending a letter of formal notice to Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland and Sweden for failure to communicate the full transposition of the recast Hydrogen and Decarbonised Gas Directive (EU) 2024/1788. The Directive was adopted in 2024 as part of the EU's hydrogen and decarbonised gas package, which also includes Regulation (EU) 2024/1789. The new Directive and Regulation update the rules on the EU natural gas market set out in the Gas Directive 2009/73/EC and the Gas Regulation 715/2009. They also introduce a regulatory framework for dedicated hydrogen infrastructure. The rules aim to facilitate the uptake of renewable and low-carbon gases, including hydrogen, while ensuring security of supply and affordability of energy for all EU citizens. EU countries had to notify the transposition of the Directive to transpose the rules into national law by 5 August 2026. To date, only Italy has notified full transposition of the Directive by the legal deadline. The Commission is therefore sending letters of formal notice to the remaining 26 EU countries. They now have 2 months to respond, complete their transposition and notify the Commission. In the absence of a satisfactory response, the Commission may decide to issue a reasoned opinion.

For more information, see the full press release.