A Luxembourg-based chief prosecutor, tasked with investigating EU
budget-related fraud, will start work next year after getting final
approval from the European Parliament on Thursday (5 October).
The prosecutor will have the power to coordinate police investigations,
freeze and seize assets, and arrest suspects across borders.
Until now, only national authorities could investigate and prosecute
crimes such as intentional misuse of EU structural funds or cross-border
VAT fraud, but it was much more difficult because these authorities’
jurisdiction ends at national borders.
Member states gave their assent to the creation of the office in the
2009 Lisbon Treaty. However, the legislation creating the agency, first
put forward in 2013, has been delayed because of opposition from some
member states.
Due to unanimity requirements, the European Council opted for
‘enhanced cooperation’, with only 20 of the EU’s 28 member states
participating. Non-participating countries include the UK, Ireland,
Denmark, Sweden, Hungary, Malta and the Netherlands. They are free to
join at any point in the future.
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The Luxembourg office will have a chief prosecutor and prosecutors from
all participating countries, who will be heading the day-to-day criminal
investigations carried out by delegated prosecutors in all
participating member states.
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