European Parliament Strengthens Anti-Corruption Measures with New EPPO Agreement

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The European Parliament has entered into a groundbreaking agreement with the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), marking the first formal collaboration between the two institutions to facilitate internal investigations into corruption and fraud. The agreement, signed by European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, reflects a continued effort to bolster transparency and accountability within the EU.

 

The agreement, obtained by POLITICO, provides EPPO with streamlined access to the Parliament’s premises and documents relevant to ongoing investigations. It also establishes protocols for requesting the relinquishment of immunity for lawmakers and staff, a move intended to enhance the effectiveness of corruption probes.

 

“This agreement will make our fight against crime and fraud faster and better. Ultimately, this is about protecting EU taxpayers’ money,” said Metsola, underscoring the broader goal of safeguarding public funds.

 

The signing of the agreement follows a similar arrangement EPPO reached with the European Commission in 2021 and comes amidst an ongoing EPPO investigation into the European People’s Party (EPP), one of the Parliament’s political groups. Under the new framework, investigations involving Members of the European Parliament will require coordination through Metsola, while inquiries related to staff will go through the secretary-general.

 

Victor Negrescu, the Parliament’s vice-president overseeing anti-corruption and transparency policies, praised the agreement as a major advancement. “It is a huge step forward for our institution and a clear message of support for EPPO by the European Parliament,” he said. Negrescu highlighted the dual purpose of the agreement: to enhance anti-corruption mechanisms and provide legal certainty for EPPO’s investigative efforts.

 

To ensure mutual accountability, the agreement stipulates that EPPO must notify the Parliament at least 48 hours before conducting any raids and keep the institution informed about the progress of investigations. Conversely, the Parliament is required to report any financial criminal conduct among its staff to EPPO.

 

This collaboration underscores the European Parliament’s commitment to fostering transparency and accountability within its ranks, sending a strong message of support for EPPO’s efforts to combat corruption and protect EU resources.

 

Based on a report by Politico 2024-12-02