The Commission decided today to open infringement procedures by sending letters of formal notice to Austria, Finland, Croatia and Luxembourg for failing to correctly transpose certain elements of the EU rules on combating terrorism (Directive (EU) 2017/541).
The rules include provisions that criminalise and sanction terrorist-related offences such as travelling abroad to commit a terrorist offence, returning to or travelling within the EU for such activities, training for terrorist purposes and financing terrorism. The rules also set up special provisions for victims of terrorism to ensure that they have access to reliable information, as well as professional and specialist support services, in the immediate aftermath of an attack and for as long as necessary. They are an important part of the EU’s Counter-Terrorism Agenda. Member States had to transpose them into national law by 8 September 2018. Austria, Finland, Croatia and Luxembourg now have two months to respond to the arguments put forward by the Commission. Otherwise, the Commission may send a reasoned opinion.