The Commission has sent letters of formal notice to Cyprus for failure to notify national measures transposing directives in time regarding a directive on drinking water and cross border company activities, as part of its package of infringement decisions released on Monday.
In this package, there are 25 Member States who have not yet notified full transposition measures for six EU directives in the fields of environment, internal market, industry, entrepreneurship and SMEs, migration, home affairs, security union and justice. Cyprus has received letters of formal notice regarding two directives.
Member States concerned now have two months to reply to the letters of formal notice and complete their transposition, or the Commission may decide to issue a reasoned opinion, the last step before the possible opening of a case in front of the Court of Justice of the EU.
Drinking water
The Commission updated Directive (EU) 2020/2184 (the Drinking Water Directive) which now includes updated safety standards, introduces a methodology to identify and manage quality risks in the whole water supply chain, establishes a watch list of emerging substances and introduces conformity provisions for products to be used in contact with drinking water.
The new directive tackles water leakages as now on average 23% of the treated water is lost during distribution in the EU. The directive also includes new provisions that require Member States to improve and maintain access to drinking water for all, and for vulnerable and marginalised groups in particular.
Member States had the obligation to transpose these new EU provisions into their national systems by 12 January 2023, and to communicate their national transposition measures to the Commission.
To date, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Croatia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland and Sweden, failed to notify national measures fully transposing the Directive by the set deadline and will therefore be receiving letters of formal notice.
Company law
In November 2019, the Directive (EU) 2019/2121 amended the Directive (EU) 2017/1132 and laid down new rules to help companies move across borders under harmonised EU rules. These new rules will make it easier for companies to merge, divide or move within the Single Market, while providing safeguards against abuse and ensuring that employees’ rights are well protected.
Member States had to transpose the Directive into their national legislation and inform the Commission thereof by 31 January 2023. The following Member States have not notified the national measures transposing the Directive: Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia and Slovakia.
Source: Cyprus News Agency