The European Commission has decided to take legal action against Estonia by referring the country to the Court of Justice of the European Union. This action is due to Estonia's failure to fully transpose the ECN+ Directive (Directive (EU) 2019/1) into its national legislation.

The ECN+ Directive is designed to empower national competition authorities across the EU, providing them with the necessary independence, resources, and enforcement tools to effectively implement EU antitrust rules. This includes decision-making powers, effective leniency programs, and mechanisms for mutual assistance among member states.

Member States were required to adopt and publish the necessary measures for the full transposition of the ECN+ Directive by February 4, 2021. However, Estonia has not communicated any transposition measures to the Commission, prompting this referral to the Court.

Prior to this referral, the Commission had already sent Estonia a letter of formal notice on March 18, 2021, followed by a reasoned opinion on September 29, 2022, indicating the seriousness of the situation. The Commission will continue to monitor the transposition of the Directive and is expected to report to the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union on the matter by December 12, 2024.