The European Parliament has signed a groundbreaking agreement with the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), granting the agency access to investigate corruption and fraud within the institution. This mirrors a similar arrangement established with the European Commission in 2021.
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola hailed the agreement as a step toward enhancing transparency and protecting EU taxpayers money. “This will make our fight against crime and fraud faster and more effective,” she stated.
The agreement allows EPPO to:
– Access Parliament premises more easily.
– Request the waiver of immunity for lawmakers and staff.
– Obtain documents relevant to investigations.
This marks the first formal cooperation between the Parliament and EPPO. It comes shortly after EPPO disclosed an ongoing investigation into the European People’s Party (EPP), one of the Parliament’s major political groups.
Under the new framework, EPPO must notify the Parliament at least 48 hours in advance of any raids. For investigations involving Members of the European Parliament, EPPO will coordinate with President Metsola, while inquiries involving staff will go through the secretary-general.
The Parliament is also obligated to inform EPPO of any suspected financial misconduct by its staff, ensuring closer cooperation to combat fraud and protect EU funds.
