62023CJ0186_INF
Judgment of the Court (Tenth Chamber) of 8 May 2025 –Commission v Bulgaria (Directive on copyright in the Digital Single Market)
(Case C‑186/23)
(Failure of a Member State to fulfil obligations – Article 258 TFEU – Directive (EU) 2019/790 – Digital Single Market – Copyright and related rights – Failure to transpose and notify the transposition measures – Article 260(3) TFEU – Financial penalties – Application for the imposition of a lump sum and a penalty payment – Discontinuance in part)
1.
Actions for failure to fulfil obligations – Examination of the merits by the Court – Situation to be taken into consideration – Situation on expiry of the period laid down in the reasoned opinion
(Art. 258 TFEU; European Parliament and Council Directive 2019/790)
(see paragraph 42)
2.
Actions for failure to fulfil obligations – Judgment of the Court establishing the failure of a Member State to fulfil its obligations – Failure to fulfil the obligation to notify measures transposing a directive – Financial penalties – Discretion of the Court – Criteria
(Art. 260(3) TFEU; European Parliament and Council Directive 2019/790)
(see paragraphs 73, 75)
3.
Actions for failure to fulfil obligations – Judgment of the Court establishing the failure of a Member State to fulfil its obligations – Failure to fulfil the obligation to notify measures transposing a directive – Financial penalties – Lump sum – Calculation of the amount – Criteria
(Art. 260(3) TFEU; European Parliament and Council Directive 2019/790)
(see paragraphs 78, 81-87)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Declares that, by failing to adopt, by the expiry of the period laid down in the reasoned opinion of the European Commission of 19 May 2022, the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with Directive (EU) 2019/790 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2019 on copyright and related rights in the Digital Single Market and amending Directives 96/9/EC and 2001/29/EC, and consequently, by failing to notify those provisions to the Commission, the Republic of Bulgaria failed to fulfil its obligations under Article 29 of that directive.
2.
Orders the Republic of Bulgaria to pay to the European Commission a lump sum of EUR 1000000.
3.
Orders the Republic of Bulgaria to bear its own costs and to pay those of the European Commission.