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

New Uncertainty at Israel-Lebanon Border Following First Deadly Strike Post U.S.-Iran Deal

New Uncertainty at Israel-Lebanon Border Following First Deadly Strike Post U.S.-Iran Deal

SOUTH LEBANON, June 15 – Eurotoday Newspaper — Israel Lebanon border tensions have returned to the international spotlight after a deadly strike in southern Lebanon reportedly killed one person, marking the first fatal incident since the announcement of a diplomatic agreement between United States the and Iran. The development has raised fresh questions about regional stability and whether local

Read More

OneTaste at the Human Rights Council: Legal Categories Blurring into Belief Policing

OneTaste at the Human Rights Council: Legal Categories Blurring into Belief Policing

A UN submission examines the expanding scope of trafficking law and its effects on spiritual leadership.
After completing the first academic study of the American organization OneTaste with María Vardé for the scholarly online encyclopedia World Religions and Spirituality Project (WRSP), I have taken a keen interest in the written submission by the ECOSC-accredited NGO CAP LC for the 62nd sessio

Read More

Un think tank pro-Orbán suspendu du registre de transparence européen

Un think tank pro-Orbán suspendu du registre de transparence européen

Donald Trump déclare qu’il imposera un embargo strict au Kremlin si Bruxelles durcit sa position envers Pékin, mais les diplomates de l’UE soupçonnent le président américain de tenter de gagner du temps.

Read More

Why Plutonium Is Not the Quick Solution to America’s Nuclear Fuel Challenge

Why Plutonium Is Not the Quick Solution to America’s Nuclear Fuel Challenge

UNITED STATES, June 15 – Brussels Morning Newspaper — plutonium nuclear fuel has returned to the spotlight as policymakers and energy experts debate how to strengthen America’s long-term nuclear energy supply. While some advocates point to plutonium as a possible future fuel source, specialists warn that the material presents major technical, economic, and security challenges that prevent it fro

Read More

UN Calls on Global Community to Remember Rohingya Refugees Amid Aid Reduction Threats

UN Calls on Global Community to Remember Rohingya Refugees Amid Aid Reduction Threats

In Geneva on Tuesday, UNHCR spokesperson Babar Baloch warned of significant cuts in humanitarian and development funding that threaten essential services for one of the largest refugee populations. He emphasized the critical role of Bangladesh and international support in addressing basic needs and providing protection. The mass arrival of Rohingya refugees began in August 2017, with approximatel

Read More

Kyiv Cathedral Hit by Russian Drone Strikes Overnight

Kyiv Cathedral Hit by Russian Drone Strikes Overnight

The leader of Ukraine’s Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Epiphanius of Kyiv, described the incident as “another Russian crime against humanity, against history, against Christianity.”
“What more must the Kremlin Antichrist do for the world to realize that decisive action must be taken to end Russian terror against Ukraine and the very principles of peace?” he wrote on X.
Presi

Read More

“Growing sense” that Europe cannot rely on the U.S. for security – survey

“Growing sense” that Europe cannot rely on the U.S. for security – survey

Public support for expanding the EU eastwards is “slipping,” says a major new survey.
It found that majorities in most countries continue to view war torn Kyiv either as an “ally” or a “necessary partner”.
However, there is “markedly less enthusiasm and consensus” on subjects of long-term support such as sending peacekeeping troops to Ukraine after the war and expanding the EU eastwards.
One of

Read More

Germany and Curaçao Open a World Cup Story About Scale

Germany and Curaçao Open a World Cup Story About Scale

The four-time champions start off in Houston against the smallest nation ever to qualify for the tournament
Germany’s World Cup kickoff against Curaçao in Houston goes beyond a clash between a European powerhouse and a newcomer. It serves as an early gauge of the expanded tournament’s potential: pressure for established teams, exposure for smaller football nations, and a reminder of

Read More

Bardella warns Brussels he won’t moderate

Bardella warns Brussels he won’t moderate

French presidential hopeful Jordan Bardella wants Brussels to know that if he reaches the Élysée, he won’t follow Italian PM Giorgia Meloni’s path from insurgent outsider to pragmatic EU power broker. POLITICO’s Marion Solletty joins Zoya Sheftalovich and Nick Vinocur to discuss her wide-ranging interview with the far-right leader — including his plans to confront the EU, his pitch to French voter

Read More

CPMR Applauds EU’s Ambitious New Islands Strategy

CPMR Applauds EU’s Ambitious New Islands Strategy

The EU’s newly announced islands strategy has been hailed as a “welcome and historic step.”
The initiative, unveiled on Wednesday, marks the first attempt to give Europe’s islands and coastal areas a more coherent policy framework.
The European Commission formally adopted two dedicated strategies, one for EU islands and one for EU coastal communities.
This sets out for the first time a coordinate

Read More