EPPO Granted Authority to Investigate Corruption in EU Parliament

Strasbourg (Eurotoday) – The European Parliament and EPPO sign an agreement allowing corruption investigations, enhancing anti-fraud efforts and transparency.

As reported by Politico, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola inked a working arrangement with the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) authorising investigations within the institution.

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) is an autonomous public prosecution office of the European Union. It is mandated for investigating, prosecuting and bringing to judgment offences against the financial interests of the EU. These include several sorts of fraud, VAT fraud with impairments above 10 million euros, money laundering, corruption, etc.

How will the EPPO investigate corruption within the parliament?

The agreement between the parliament and the prosecutor’s office is the first agreement of its kind between the two institutions. Most especially, it will make it more manageable for EPPO to access the EU Parliament and probe corruption cases within the institution. “It will make our fight against crime and fraud faster and better. Ultimately this agreement is about protecting EU taxpayers’ money,” stated.

How does the agreement improve access to parliamentary records?

The arrangement makes it easier for EPPO to access the Parliament’s premises, to request to renounce the immunity of lawmakers and team and to access documents linked to investigations. The agreement comes weeks after EPPO informed it is conducting an investigation into one of the Parliament’s political parties, the European People’s Party (EPP). For investigations linked to members of the European Parliament, EPPO will have to reach Metsola. For investigations into Parliament staff, it will reach the secretary-general.

According to the contract, the EPPO will need to report to the Parliament any searches at least 48 hours in advance. In addition, the EPPO will need to inform the Parliament regarding ongoing investigations, and in turn, the Parliament must notify the EPPO of financial criminal conduct among its staff. 

What does the new EPPO-Parliament agreement aim to achieve?

In his remarks, blank” rel=”noopener”>Victor Negrescu, the Parliament vice-president for the fight against corruption and transparency policies, claimed that the agreement, which reflects a similar deal between EPPO and the European Commission in 2021, aims to “improve our anticorruption mechanisms” and to “provide legal certainty to EPPO investigations.” “It is a huge step forward for our institution and a clear message of support for EPPO by the European Parliament,” he stated. 


Comments

3 responses to “EPPO Granted Authority to Investigate Corruption in EU Parliament”

  1. Heavenly Connection Avatar
    Heavenly Connection

    Oh, fantastic! Finally, the EPPO gets a backstage pass to the EU Parliament—like letting the fox guard the henhouse, innit? 😏 Who knew fighting corruption could be as bureaucratic as a snail race on a Sunday? 🐌💼

  2. Twix Esses Avatar

    Oh, brilliant move! Nothing screams “We’re serious about transparency!” quite like a fancy agreement to check each other’s pockets. 🤔💼 Let’s just hope the EPPO doesn’t trip over all the red tape while searching for loose change! 😅

  3. Oh fantastic, the EPPO can now investigate the Parliament—because who doesn’t love a good bureaucratic tango while the rest of us are just trying to get our taxes sorted? 🤷‍♂️ Hope they’ve packed their lunch; it might take a while to find anything in that maze! 🍽️

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Last News

Ukrainian Missiles Hit Russian Defense Plant, Zelenskyy Reports

Ukrainian Missiles Hit Russian Defense Plant, Zelenskyy Reports

“This is a significant industrial site where the adversary produces artillery systems and specialized military gear, including parts for missile systems used against our citizens,” stated Zelenskyy. “Every Russian defense site that contributes to the war against Ukraine is a legitimate target for our long-range sanctions.”
Andrey Bocharov, governor of Volgograd region, verified the attack on Tele

Read More

CPMR Embraces "Committed European Vision for Islands"

CPMR Embraces "Committed European Vision for Islands"

The first-ever EU Strategy for Islands has been greeted as an “important political milestone for Europe’s maritime territories.”
The initiatives, which also include an EU Strategy for Resilient, Prosperous and Liveable Coastal Communities, have been advocated by the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions, CPMR, and its Islands Commission.
They establish, for the first time, dedicated European

Read More

EU Message Scanning Initiative Rekindles Privacy Debate

EU Message Scanning Initiative Rekindles Privacy Debate

Member states seek to revive a temporary child-safety tool after Parliament rejected the measure in March
EU governments are working to revive a temporary legal framework that allows messaging providers to detect child sexual abuse material, revisiting the sensitive issue of balancing child protection, private communications, and power between the Council and the European Parliament.
EU ambassad

Read More

Ein Spaziergang durch Kiew mit Botschafter Thoms

Ein Spaziergang durch Kiew mit Botschafter Thoms

During a walk through the Ukrainian capital, Germany’s ambassador Heiko Thoms explains to Gordon Repinski how the Ukrainians’ pursuit of normalcy has become a deliberate act of defiance against Russian aggression.
Thoms reflects on the toughest winter in decades. Weeks of sub-zero temperatures, systematic attacks on energy infrastructure, and constant generator noise were meant to wear

Read More

Europe on Alert as Extreme Heat Threatens Public Health

Europe on Alert as Extreme Heat Threatens Public Health

Southern Europe, June 26 – Eurotoday Newspaper — Public Health Europe remains the primary focus as authorities across southern Europe respond to an intensifying heatwave that has pushed temperatures to dangerous levels. Millions of people are under weather alerts as health agencies urge residents and tourists to avoid prolonged sun exposure, stay hydrated, and check on elderly and vulnerable ind

Read More

Bosnia Begins WU19 EURO With Broader Ambitions

Bosnia Begins WU19 EURO With Broader Ambitions

Women’s Youth Championship Kicks Off in Sarajevo and Zenica, spotlighting legacy, access, and Spain’s supremacy
By Daniel Mercer, Sports Correspondent, The European Times
The UEFA Women’s Under-19 Championship starts this weekend in Bosnia and Herzegovina, showcasing eight of Europe’s top youth teams in Sarajevo and Zenica. The competition is significant, particularly with Spain defending

Read More

Erdoğan launches crackdown ahead of NATO summit

Erdoğan launches crackdown ahead of NATO summit

Some journalists denied accreditation are from outlets critical of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
NATO spokesperson Allison Hart stated Thursday that the alliance “relies on the host nation to provide assessments on journalists from their country.” NATO is communicating with Turkish authorities on accreditation, emphasizing the importance of media attendance at major events.
Campaigners accuse th

Read More

Why Thousands of UK Entrepreneurs Are Opting for Company Formation Packages in 2026

Why Thousands of UK Entrepreneurs Are Opting for Company Formation Packages in 2026

London, June 26 – Eurotoday Newspaper — Company formation packages are seeing record demand as thousands of UK entrepreneurs turn to online incorporation services to launch new businesses quickly and efficiently. Industry professionals report that founders are increasingly selecting digital registration solutions that combine company incorporation with compliance support, helping reduce paperwor

Read More

Brussels Strengthens Controls on Strategic Investment

Brussels Strengthens Controls on Strategic Investment

EU Implements Mandatory Foreign Investment Screening Across Member States, Retaining National Decision-Making Power
The European Union has issued new guidelines for foreign investment screening, signifying a notable change in overseeing strategic areas like digital infrastructure, energy, transport, critical raw materials, and advanced technologies. This framework aims to bridge gaps between nat

Read More

Governments and Private Sector Must Unite to Counter Hybrid Attacks

Governments and Private Sector Must Unite to Counter Hybrid Attacks

Offshore Energies UK reported “drone sightings near offshore energy structures” in April. “Our platforms are 100, 150 miles out in the middle of the sea, so you don’t typically have many neighbors — you don’t have people coming and visiting unless they have a very good reason,” Graham Skinner, the trade body’s health and safety manager for offshore infrastructure, told the

Read More