This dataset include data on infringement cases. There is one observation per case (2002-2020). The dataset includes information on the department responsible for the case, the member state that the case is against, and the progression of the case through the infringement procedure.

cases

Format

A data frame with 47 variables:

key_id

Numeric. An ID number that uniquely identifies each observation in the dataset.

case_id

String. An ID number that uniquely identifies each infringement case.

case_number

Numeric. The number of the case.

case_year

Numeric. The year of the case.

member_state_id

Numeric. An ID number that uniquely identifies each member state. This ID number is assigned when member states are sorted by accession date and then alphabetically.

member_state

String. The name of the member state that the Commission opened the case against.

member_state_code

String. A two letter code assigned by the Commission that uniquely identifies each member state.

department_id

Numeric. An ID number that uniquely identifies each Commission department.

department

String. The name of the Commission department that opened the infringement case.

department_code

String. A multi-letter code assigned by the Commission that uniquely identifies each department.

directive

Dummy. A dummy variable indicating whether the description of the infringement case provided by the Commission references a directive that the case relates to. Directive numbers have the format ####/####, where the first set of numbers is the year the directive was enacted and the second set is the number of the directive.

directive_number

String. The number of the directive that the infringement case relates to, if applicable. Coded NA if the description of the case provided by the Commission does not reference a specific directive number.

celex

String. The CELEX number of the directive that the infringement case relates to, if applicable. Coded NA if the description of the case provided by the Commission does not reference a specific directive number. CELEX numbers for directives have the format 3####L####, where the first set of numbers is the year the directive was enacted and the second set is the number of the directive.

case_type_id

Numeric. An ID number that uniquely identifies each type of state aid cases. Coded 1 for noncommunication cases, which are cases that relate to a member state failing to notify the Commission that it has transposed a directive by the stated deadline. Coded 2 for nonconformity cases, which are cases that relate to a member state incorrectly transposing a directive.

case_type

String. The type of the infringement case. There are two types of cases. Coded noncommunication for cases that relate to a member state failing to notify the Commission that it has transposed a directive by the stated deadline. Coded nonconformity for cases that relate to a member state incorrectly transposing a directive.

noncommunication

Dummy. A dummy variable indicating whether the infringement case is a noncommunication case, which is a case that relates to a member state failing to notify that Commission that it has transposed a directive by the stated deadline.

nonconformity

Dummy. A dummy variable indicating whether the infringement case is a nonconformity case, which is a case that relates to a member state incorrectly transposing a directive.

complete

Dummy. A dummy variable indicating whether the public records published by the Commission about the case are complete in that they include a record of a letter of formal notice under Article 258 of the Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), a record of the closing of the case, and a record of any stages of the infringement procedure in between.

count_press_releases

Numeric. The number of press releases published by the Commission related to the case.

stage_lfn_258

Dummy. A dummy variable indicating whether the decision is a letter of formal notice sent by the Commission under Article 258 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

stage_ro_258

Dummy. A dummy variable indicating whether the decision is a reasoned opinion sent by the Commission under Article 258 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

stage_rf_258

Dummy. A dummy variable indicating whether the decision is a referral to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) made by the Commission under Article 258 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

stage_lfn_260

Dummy. A dummy variable indicating whether the decision is a letter of formal notice sent by the Commission under Article 260 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

stage_ro_260

Dummy. A dummy variable indicating whether the decision is a reasoned opinion sent by the Commission under Article 260 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

stage_rf_260

Dummy. A dummy variable indicating whether the decision is a referral to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) made by the Commission under Article 260 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

stage_closing

Dummy. A dummy variable indicating whether the decision is the closing of the case by the Commission.

stage_withdrawal

Dummy. A dummy variable indicating whether the decision is the withdrawal of the case by the Commission.

case_history

String. A summary of the history of the case, including all decisions taken by the Commission in the case (with dates).

corrected_lfn_258

Dummy. A dummy variable indicating whether the decision is a letter of formal notice sent by the Commission under Article 258 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

corrected_ro_258

Dummy. A dummy variable indicating whether the decision is a reasoned opinion sent by the Commission under Article 258 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

corrected_rf_258

Dummy. A dummy variable indicating whether the decision is a referral to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) made by the Commission under Article 258 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

corrected_lfn_260

Dummy. A dummy variable indicating whether the decision is a letter of formal notice sent by the Commission under Article 260 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

corrected_ro_260

Dummy. A dummy variable indicating whether the decision is a reasoned opinion sent by the Commission under Article 260 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

corrected_rf_260

Dummy. A dummy variable indicating whether the decision is a referral to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) made by the Commission under Article 260 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). Corrected based on data about decisions made by the Commission at later stages of the infringement process.

count_decisions

Numeric. The number of decisions issued by the Commission in the case. Based on the corrected data.

count_lfn_258

Numeric. The number of letters of formal notice sent by the Commission under Article 258 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

count_ro_258

Numeric. The number of reasoned opinions sent by the Commission under Article 258 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

count_rf_258

Numeric. The number of referrals to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) made by the Commission under Article 258 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

count_lfn_260

Numeric. The number of letters of formal notice sent by the Commission under Article 260 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

count_ro_260

Numeric. The number of reasoned opinions sent by the Commission under Article 260 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

count_rf_260

Numeric. The number of referrals to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) made by the Commission under Article 260 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

count_missing

Numeric. The number of decision stages prior to the last observed decision stage that are missing.

missing_lfn_258

Dummy. A dummy variable indicating whether the Commission does not report a letter of formal notice under Article 258 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) but does report a decision at a later stage of the infringement process.

missing_ro_258

Dummy. A dummy variable indicating whether the Commission does not report a reasoned opinion under Article 258 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) but does report a decision at a later stage of the infringement process.

missing_rf_258

Dummy. A dummy variable indicating whether the Commission does not report a referral to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) under Article 258 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) but does report a decision at a later stage of the infringement process.

missing_lfn_260

Dummy. A dummy variable indicating whether the Commission does not report a letter of formal notice under Article 260 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) but does report a decision at a later stage of the infringement process.

missing_ro_260

Dummy. A dummy variable indicating whether the Commission does not report a reasoned opinion under Article 260 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) but does report a decision at a later stage of the infringement process.