European Public Prosecutor's Office

The agreement with the Bulgarian Prosecutor's Office for the appointment of 10 delegated European prosecutors is still in force and the issue is not up for discussion, the EU's new Chief Prosecutor Laura Kövesi was quoted as saying Thursday by the Bulgarian justice ministry. Kövesi is set to speak to the press on Friday.

Bulgaria's caretaker Minister of Justice Prof. Yanaki Stoilov and his team held a meeting with the European Chief Prosecutor Laura Kövesi on June 10.

European Chief Prosecutor Laura Kövesi arrives in Bulgaria on Thursday (10 June) for her first mission abroad since the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) was launched at the start of the month. The visit is rather surprising, because no program has been announced.

European Chief Prosecutor Laura Kövesi arrives in Bulgaria on Thursday, 10 June. According to preliminary information, the Bulgarian European Prosecutor Teodora Georgieva will accompany her.

Kövesi will visit the office of the European delegated prosecutors, housed in the building of the Sofia District Court. She is also expected to meet with Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev.

Despite repeated calls from EU officials, Slovenia has not yet selected prosecutors to delegate to the newly established EU prosecutor's office, which will investigate fraud, corruption and money laundering involving the EU budget.

On Monday, European Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders reiterated his call for Slovenia to appoint prosecutors.

Luxembourg – European Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders has reiterated his call for Slovenia to appoint European delegated prosecutors for the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) as soon as possible. He hopes that he could soon discuss the issue with the new Slovenian justice minister.

Hungary and Poland were among five countries not to join EPPO, which will be partly staffed by prosecutors sourced from participating member states. Ireland and Denmark enjoy opt-out benefits in justice and home affairs cooperation, while the European Commission says Sweden plans to join EPPO next year. Hungary and Poland will be harder to convince.

Luxembourg – The European Commission is in contact with the Slovenian authorities for Slovenia to fulfil its obligations regarding the appointment of its European delegated prosecutors as soon as possible, European Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders said on Tuesday.

The European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO), an independent EU body, starts operating on Tuesday. Based in Luxembourg, this first supranational public prosecution office will investigate, prosecute and take to judgment criminal offences that damage the EU's financial interests.

The European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO), headed by Laura Coveschi, will start operating on Tuesday without Bulgaria having the required 10 delegated prosecutors mandated to work on major fraud cases related to EU funds at the domestic level.