The European Commission launched formal infringement proceedings against Greece today over failures to adopt EU directiv...

The European Commission launched formal infringement proceedings against Greece today over failures to adopt EU directives in three separate areas: energy market rules, money laundering, and human trafficking. On the energy side, Greece is among 18 member states that failed to notify Brussels on how they have transposed new electricity market rules into national law. Those rules are designed to give consumers the right to freely choose and switch electricity suppliers and participate more actively in energy sharing arrangements. Greece and 25 of the EU's 27 members were also cited for failing to incorporate new rules on the hydrogen and decarbonised gas market, which cover renewable gases, security of supply, and energy affordability. All countries named in the energy proceedings now have two months to comply. If they fail to do so, the Commission can escalate by issuing a formal reasoned opinion, which is the next step toward potential referral to the European Court of Justice. The money-laundering and human trafficking infringement cases are separate actions, also opened Friday, with Greece listed alongside a large number of other EU states in both. The Commission did not specify precise deadlines for those cases in today's statement, but the proceedings signal Brussels is prepared to escalate if national legislation is not updated. Greece is far from alone in these proceedings. Belgium, France, Spain, Romania, Poland, and Sweden are among the countries facing the same energy-related action, and the vast majority of EU members were cited in at least one of the three areas. #Greece #EU #EuropeanCommission