Brussels – On Thursday, the European Commission launched two new infringement procedures against Austria and several other member states. Vienna, along with 17 other EU capitals, has not fully incorporated regulations aimed at preventing the circumvention of EU sanctions into their national laws. This directive seeks to address the avoidance of EU sanctions, particularly those enacted in response to Russia’s aggressive actions in Ukraine.
The regulation is designed to unify the definitions of offenses and the penalties for breaches of the EU’s restrictive measures. Member states had until May 20, 2025, to adopt this directive into their national legislation. A cohesive national criminal law in this area aims to enhance the investigation and prosecution of EU sanctions violations across member states. The second infringement procedure pertains to the promotion of renewable energy.
The Commission has issued letters of formal notice to the affected member states, marking the initial stage of the infringement process. These countries are required to respond within two months, finalize implementation, and report back to Brussels on their measures. Failure to do so may result in the Commission advancing to reasoned opinions as the subsequent step.
BMJ: Majority of the directive already implemented
In response to an inquiry from APA, Austrian authorities highlighted that Austria has largely enacted the EU directive: “This has already been communicated to the European Commission – we are in ongoing discussions here.” The alignment of criminal offenses and penalties within the EU aims to close loopholes in criminal accountability and improve legal cooperation among member states. This will enhance the efficacy of the EU sanctions regime. “Legislative efforts on the remaining points are well underway,” with a draft law to be “submitted in due course,” stated the BMJ.
FPÖ criticizes the procedure
Harald Vilimsky, leader of the Freedom Party’s delegation in the European Parliament, remarked, “The EU risks causing economic harm to Europe by maintaining a sanctions policy against Russia, the advantages of which are highly questionable.” He noted that the 18 sanctions packages imposed on Russia have yielded little except for significant economic strain on citizens. He criticized the idea of punishing states that abstain from this misguided path, emphasizing the disconnect of European politics from reality.
Andreas Schieder, head of the SPÖ EU delegation, countered, “While Ukraine fights for its survival, the FPÖ again aligns with the aggressor and perpetuates Russian propaganda.” He acknowledged that sanctions are not a quick fix to end wars but asserted that claims of their ineffectiveness are “simply incorrect.” He emphasized the necessity of diligently closing all loopholes. (24.07.2025)
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