Brussels — The European Commission has taken legal action against Austria, Germany, and France, accusing them of failing to properly implement key EU rules designed to fight money laundering, according to derStandard.
In a statement released Wednesday, the Commission said the three countries did not fully apply important parts of the anti-money laundering directive, particularly rules that define criminal offenses and clarify how companies can be held responsible. These gaps, the Commission warned, could weaken efforts to combat financial crime across the European Union.
The directive is meant to create a common legal framework, making it easier for police and judicial authorities in different EU countries to work together. It also aims to prevent criminals from taking advantage of weaker laws in certain countries to escape punishment.
As part of the legal process, the Commission has sent formal letters of notice to the three governments. They now have two months to respond and address the identified shortcomings. If their responses are not considered satisfactory, the Commission may escalate the case by issuing a formal opinion, a step that can eventually lead to proceedings before the Court of Justice of the European Union.
Austria is also facing pressure over a separate EU directive aimed at improving gender balance on corporate boards. According to the Commission, Austria and eight other member states failed to fully report their national measures by the required deadline.
The directive requires large publicly listed companies to ensure that at least 40 percent of non-executive board positions, or 33 percent of all board seats, are held by members of the underrepresented gender.
If these countries fail to comply within the given timeframe, the Commission may refer the cases to the EU’s top court and seek financial penalties, increasing pressure on governments to align with EU standards.
