The European Commission has taken Bulgaria to the Court of Justice and asked for financial sanctions, saying the country still has not fully transposed the European Union’s common electricity-market rules.
Directive 2019/944 sets the framework for an integrated and competitive electricity market, including consumer protections, transparent market organisation and rules intended to let customers participate more actively. Member states were required to put the directive into national law by the end of 2020.
The Commission opened its case against Bulgaria in February 2021 and issued a reasoned opinion in April 2023. It says that, after reviewing Sofia’s replies and the measures notified as national transposition, important provisions remain missing.
Referral to the court moves the dispute from administrative correspondence into formal litigation. Because the case concerns failure to transpose legislation by a fixed deadline, the Commission has asked the judges to impose monetary sanctions if they uphold the claim. The amount, if any, will be determined through the court process rather than by the announcement itself.
Bulgaria will be able to contest the Commission’s assessment, and there is no judicial finding of breach yet.
Official European Commission infringement decision
