The European Commission opened infringement procedures against 18 EU Member States for failing to notify measures fully transposing the Directive on the criminalisation of the violation of Union restrictive measures (Directive (EU) 2024/1226). The Directive lays down EU-wide minimum rules for the prosecution of violation and circumvention of EU sanctions in Member States (→eucrim 1/2024, 14-15). It is in direct connection with Russia's war against Ukraine and seeks to make enforcement of restrictive measures more effective. Member States had until 20 May 2025 to transpose the Directive into their national law. On 24 July 2025, the Commission started the infringement procedures by sending letters of formal notice to the Member States concerned.