Overview
The file concerns a proposed directive under the ordinary legislative procedure (2023/0135(COD)), aimed at establishing a comprehensive EU-wide legal framework for preventing and combating corruption. The initiative seeks to replace older instruments, specifically Council Framework Decision 2003/568/JHA, and to amend Directive (EU) 2017/1371 on the fight against fraud. The current status is 'Awaiting Parliament's position in 1st reading', with an indicative plenary sitting date set for March 2026. This analysis is based on the procedural narrative, institutional handling data, and a summary of a European Parliament committee opinion (CONT-AD-753561).
Legislative timeline
The legislative procedure commenced with the referral to the responsible European Parliament committee on 1 June 2023. The committee report was tabled on 21 September 2023, followed by the tabling and subsequent adoption of an opinion from the Committee on Budgetary Control (CONT) in October and November 2023. The lead committee adopted its report on 31 January 2024. The file was tabled for plenary in February 2024, at which point the plenary endorsed the committee's mandate to enter into interinstitutional negotiations. Several negotiation rounds have since taken place, with dates recorded for January, March, May, and June 2025. The next key procedural step is the indicative plenary sitting scheduled for 25 March 2026, where the Parliament is expected to vote on its first-reading position.
Institutional handling
The lead committee in the European Parliament is the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE). The Committee on Budgetary Control (CONT) provided a detailed opinion. On the Commission side, the responsible service is the Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs (HOME), under Commissioner Magnus Brunner. Within the Council of the EU, the file is handled by the Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) Council configuration.
Stakeholder reactions
Stakeholder engagement on this file has been active, with 40 documented meetings involving institutional actors. Of these, 36 were with Members of the European Parliament, 2 with Commissioners, and 2 with European Commission staff. These interactions involved 30 distinct organisations. The most frequently recorded organisations in these engagements include the Transparency International Liaison Office to the European Union, Cultura contro camorra, the CEELI Institute, T-Projekt Menedzsment Gazdasági, Tanácsadó és Szolgáltató Kft., and Restitution Afrique (RAF).
Media coverage
Media monitoring has identified three relevant news articles from two countries, including Brussels and Malta. One article reports that the LIBE committee endorsed a provisional agreement on the EU Anti-Corruption Directive, with MEP David Casa noted as leading the negotiations. Another article cites Mariusz Kamiński criticising the LIBE-approved trilogue outcome, calling for stronger integrity rules for EU institutions and independent enforcement, and referencing recent scandals. A third piece discusses broader EU external relations but references internal debates on policy responses, highlighting a context of cautious diplomacy and fragmented approaches.