The Council of the European Union has issued a corrigendum correcting an error in the Finnish language version of Directive (EU) 2019/1153, which facilitates the use of financial and other information for preventing, detecting, investigating, or prosecuting certain criminal offences. The correction, published on 1 July 2026, amends Article 21(3) in the Finnish version to replace the phrase 'whether it is necessary, and to what extent, to expand the definition of financial information' with 'whether it is proportionate to expand the definition of financial information, and whether such expansion is necessary'.
The corrigendum ensures legal clarity and accuracy in the Finnish text, preventing misinterpretation of the assessment criteria for expanding the definition of financial information. The Directive, originally adopted on 20 June 2019, requires the European Commission to submit a report to the European Parliament and the Council by 2 August 2024 assessing the expansion of the financial information definition, and to present a legislative proposal if appropriate. The correction clarifies that proportionality, not just necessity, must be evaluated in that assessment.
This technical correction reinforces the EU's commitment to precise multilingual legislation, supporting consistent implementation across Member States. The change does not alter the substance of the Directive but ensures the Finnish version accurately reflects the intended legal requirement. The corrigendum is a legislative act of the Council, correcting an obvious error in the official text.