Cleary Gottlieb brief notes that the EU’s new anti-corruption directive will raise compliance expectations in France, increasing corporate liability, penalties, and enforcement risk

The briefing says Directive (EU) 2026/1021 creates the EU’s first single criminal-law framework for corruption offences and will require France to adjust parts of its already developed Sapin II regime, including by introducing a failure-to-supervise basis for corporate liability and recalibrating penalties for legal entities. It recommends that companies operating in France and across the EU prepare ahead of the 2028 transposition deadline by reviewing internal…