• The European Commission has launched infringement proceedings against Germany and other member states for failing to transpose several EU rules into national law.
• Germany is specifically affected in seven cases, including rules on work permits, asylum seeker reception standards, media protection, environmental offenses, discrimination combating bodies, and product authorization.
• The Commission has sent warning letters to the countries concerned, urging them to take immediate action to ensure their legislation complies with EU requirements, with a two-month deadline for response before potential fines are imposed.

The European Commission has stated that Germany and other member states are dragging their feet in transposing several EU rules into national law.

The Brussels-based authority has launched a series of proceedings against these countries for failing to notify it of the relevant transposition measures.

The Commission announced on Wednesday that has sent warning letters to the countries concerned. Germany is affected in seven cases.

The Commission's says the German cases concern rules on work permits, minimum standards for the reception of asylum seekers, the protection of the media and non-governmental organizations against frivolous legal action, the fight against serious environmental offences, standards for independent bodies combating discrimination, and the authorization of products.

The Commission noted that not a single EU member state has yet implemented the requirements on the energy efficiency of buildings.

The commission says the warnings relate to a total of 15 EU directives, and the deadline for implementing them has recently expired.

It urged the member states to take immediate action to ensure their legislation complies with EU requirements. They have two months to respond to the formal letters from Brussels.

At the end of the infringement proceedings, a case may be brought before the European Court of Justice and a fine may be imposed.