The EP and the EPPO sign an agreement to enhance cooperation

Last 27 November, the European Parliament and the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) endorsed a working arrangement to facilitate and clarify procedures and exchanges of information.

The document signed between the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, and the European Chief Prosecutor, Laura Kövesi, establishes the modalities for the cooperation between the two institutions.

“This agreement between the European Parliament and the European Public Prosecutor’s Office will strengthen and solidify our cooperation. It will make our fight against crime and fraud faster and better. Ultimately this agreement is about protecting EU tax payers money” said President Metsola.

The agreement provides that the EPPO shall regularly inform Parliament of ongoing and closed investigations, without prejudice to the proper conduct and confidentiality of the EPPO investigations, to enable it to take appropriate measures, including precautionary measures to protect the financial interests of the Union, intervention as a civil party in proceedings and measures for the administrative recovery of sums due to the Union budget.

The working arrangement also states that the Parliament shall forward to the EPPO without delay any information concerning criminal offences falling within its competence, and in particular those affecting the financial interests of the Union.

Background

Article 99 of the (EU) 2017/1939 Regulation establishing the EPPO provides that the EPPO may enter into Working Arrangements with the Union institutions in order to facilitate cooperation and the exchange of information.

More information: European Parlament.