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”
-
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? 🐌💼
-
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! 😅
-
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! 🍽️
Last News
Isaac Hammouch to Publish New Book on the Khashoggi Assassination
The upcoming book revisits the assassination of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2, 2018. This case sparked global outrage and heightened scrutiny on state a
Poland’s Far Right Stages ‘Star Wars’ Merger to Avoid Deregistration Before 2027 Vote
Confederation officials have been open about their objectives.
“We can say that we outsmart
Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Represents UAE President at New Delhi’s Global Summit on AI Impact
This in
Brussels’ Privacy Reforms Falter at the Start
A new document, dated February 20, was prepared by the current EU Council presidency held
How to Handle a Suspected Error on Your Energy Bill in the EU
Should your electricity or gas bill unexpectedly rise, EU regulations and national oversight provide clear avenues to contest it. Begin by verifying the meter and contract, submit a written complaint to your supplier, and, if the response is unsatisfactory, escalate the issue to an independent ombudsman or dispute body. This guide outlines practical steps—particularly beneficial for cross-border
EU’s Ukraine Envoy: Russian ‘War Crime’ Leaves Kyiv Civilians in the Cold
Despite ongoing challenges, Mathernová remains hopeful that the potential for some form of EU membership by 2027 could sustain Ukrainians’ determination. According to a POLITICO report, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen suggested the idea of “reverse enlargement” to secure Ukraine’s place in the EU, even if it hasn’t fully met accession requirement
Le Premier ministre du Qatar à Caracas : diplomatie énergétique et équilibres mondiaux
Le Venezuela reste un acteur énergétique stratégique, malgré des années de sanctions et d’instabilité politique. Ses va
Sanctions, Tensions — and a Birthday at the FAC
Host Zoya Sheftalovich and POLITICO’s chief foreign affairs correspondent Nick Vinocur discuss the implications at the Foreign Affairs Council.
Next, we t
Robot clean-up crews tackle litter on Europe’s seabed
A crane-equipped ship basks in the Mediterranean sun at a marina in Marseille, France. The crane whirs as it retrieves waste from below, surfacing with an algae-coated rubber tyre.
Throughout the day, rusted ship components, fences, and heavy machinery are pulled from the depths onto another vessel.
This unique clean-up uses no crew, operating autonomously. It’s a demonstration by SeaClear2.0,
EU Loses Patience After Trump’s Latest Tariff Threat
“The European Commission requests full clarity on the steps the United States intends to take following the recent Supreme Court ruling on the In
Leave a Reply