EU aims to harmonise criminal laws across bloc to fight corruption

Proposals would make it easier for cross-border cooperation to tackle organised crime, bribery and abuse of office

The EU executive wants to harmonise criminal laws against corruption across the bloc, as part of a wide-ranging drive to tackle bribery, abuse of office and illicit enrichment.

Under a proposed draft directive, misappropriation of funds, trading influence, abuse of office, illicit enrichment and obstruction of justice in corruption cases would be harmonised criminal offences. Bribery is currently the only corruption offence criminalised at EU level.