Between 18 and 40 billion invoices circulate in the European Union each year—more than 500 every second. Unfortunately, as many as half are paid late, beyond agreed or statutory deadlines. According to the European Commission, such delays—whether between companies or between businesses and public institutions—have serious consequences. They undermine financial liquidity, increase debt servicing costs, stifle growth and investment, lead to job losses and, in extreme cases, bankruptcy.
The directive, in place since 2011, was intended to curb the scale of this issue. Yet the problem persists. That’s why, in September 2023, the European Commission proposed a new regulation to replace the current directive.
In April 2024, the European Parliament backed the Commission’s proposal, adopting its position at first reading with 459 votes in favour. However, the draft has been awaiting a decision from the EU Council since September 2023. Some member states have called for it to be withdrawn and replaced with a revised version of the existing directive.
On 11 July, Poland’s Ministry of Development and Technology announced that the Commission had launched a public consultation. The aim is to gather feedback from stakeholders on how to effectively tackle late payments and assess their impact on businesses’ day-to-day operations. The information collected will help update the EU’s understanding of payment behaviours and support the development of more effective legislation.
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Transport sector hit hard
The TSL sector has long struggled with delayed payments, which directly threaten the liquidity of businesses. This not only hampers growth but also puts the continuity of many operators at risk, especially given the sector’s typically low margins. That’s why the European Commission is urging transport companies in particular to take part in the consultation.
Spain sets an example
Spain, meanwhile, has been enforcing strict laws against late payments for several years. In October 2021, a law came into force imposing heavy penalties for overdue payments in road transport. Missing the payment deadline is classified as a serious or very serious infringement, with fines exceeding €30,000.
What’s the result? According to the latest figures from the Permanent Observatory on Payment Delays, the average payment term fell to a record 60 days in June 2025—a 30% drop compared to 2021. The June data also shows that 77% of transactions are now settled within 60 to 90 days, while the number of firms exceeding 120 days continues to decline.
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Blacklist and targeted penalties
A key part of the Spanish framework is the so-called blacklist of transport debtors. This register includes companies fined in administrative proceedings for exceeding the legal payment deadline for road transport services.
In the second half of 2024, 300 companies were fined a total of more than €720,000. By comparison, penalties in the first half of the year reached nearly €2 million.
The latest list included major logistics firms such as ID Logistics Iberia, DSV Road Spain and DHL Freight Spain. Fines ranged from €1,001 to €20,005. These measures serve not only a punitive function but also a preventative and educational one.
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Europe must act
Although the European Parliament approved the text of the new regulation in 2024—which includes a 30-day maximum payment deadline and a unified penalty regime—the legislative process has stalled. The Danish Presidency of the EU Council has not included the proposal in its list of priorities.
Spain’s experience shows that determined action can lead to real progress. The question is whether the European Union will follow the same path—before more companies are caught in the spiral of payment bottlenecks.
