European Commission takes Bulgaria to Court over failure to transpose rental vehicle directive

On 1 October 2026, the European Commission decided to take Bulgaria to the Court of Justice of the European Union on the grounds that it had transposed almost none of the provisions of the rental vehicle directive (Directive (EU) 2022/738) into national law, having implemented only one provision on proof of compliance. The directive sets minimum standards for the transport of goods by van without a driver, and member states were required to complete transposition by 6 August 2023. The Commission has requested that the Court impose financial penalties on Bulgaria.