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
What’s at Stake in the May Elections?
Sir Keir Starmer faces a critical evaluation and assessment of his government and leadership, marking his first major test since the general election. Could the outcomes influence his role as leader?
In this special episode, Sam and Anne welcome electi
Germany’s center-left faces near extinction
Serbia Discovers Explosive Near Hungary Pipeline Ahead of Key Election
Pope Leo Urges World Leaders to ‘Choose Peace’ in First Easter Address
He expressed sadness over the rise of what he termed the globalization of indifference, echoing some of the last words of his predecessor, Pope Francis, who passed away nearly a year ago.
“We are becoming accustomed to violence, accepting it, and growing indifferent,” Leo stated. ̶
Ukraine Signals Possible Kyiv Visit by Top Trump Envoys This Month
Trump has been urging Zelenskyy to agree to a resolution for Russia’s conflict against Ukraine, potentially involving Kyiv surrendering parts of its territory, as the Ukrainian pres
US Rescues Missing Jet Crew Member from Iran, Says Trump
Die Wiederauferstehung des Landes – mit Ulf Poschardt
Five Countries Urge Brussels to Tax Energy Companies Profiting from Iran Crisis
The 2022 regulation enforced a minimum 33 percent tax
Steps to Take When Your Bank Account Is Frozen in Europe
Imagine trying to make a payment for groceries or rent, only to have your card declined. You check your banking app and discover your account is frozen. No prior warning, no clear reason. Suddenly, your access to funds is in jeopardy, disrupting everyday life.
In Europe, banks have the legal authority to freeze accounts under certain conditions, usually related to anti-money laundering investiga
Zelenskyy: Egypt rejects Ukrainian wheat exported by Russia
“I spoke with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who informed me that Egypt will no longer accept grain exported by Russia from our temporarily occupied territories,” Zelenskyy shared on Telegram, noting that Cairo expressed interest in increasing Ukrainian grain imports
Leave a Reply