A Romanian appointed as European chief prosecutor

The former head of the National Anticorruption Directorate is one step away from being appointed the chief of the European Prosecutor's Office

Daniela Budu, 25.09.2019, 13:55

Laura Codruta Kovesi will become
the first head of the European Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO). The European
Parliament on Tuesday reached a final agreement with the Council of the
European Union with respect to Kovesi’s appointment. Negotiations started this
spring, with Parliament backing Kovesi’s candidacy all throughout the talks,
despite some opposition of EU ministers initially. Ms Kövesi is the perfect
choice to become EU Chief Prosecutor. She has excellent professional
competences. Moreover, Romania does not currently hold any key posts in the EU.
She will be one of the strong women leading in the EU from now on, Spanish
MPJuan Fernando Lopez Aguilar, the chairman of the European Parliament’s Civil
Liberties Committee said. We are very pleased that Ms Laura Kövesi will
be leading the new European Public Prosecutor’s Office. She corresponds best to
the European Parliament’s vision of a strong and credible EPPO. Ms Kövesi is
extremely competent, with an impressive record of achievements in fighting
corruption with remarkable resilience and great courage, the Budget Control
Committee Chair Monika Hohlmeier in turn said. Last week, the Committee of
Permanent Representatives in the European Union voted for Kovesi’s appointment
as European chief prosecutor. At the time, the former head of the National
Anticorruption Directorate said the vote is the effort of people who have
supported the fight against corruption. Laura Codruta Kovesi.

I believe we should understand
this vote as an achievement of all Romanians who in recent years have supported
the fight against corruption and upheld the rule of law and European values.

The agreement over the appointment
of Kovesi as European chief prosecutor must now be made official by the
European Parliament and the Council of the European Union. Brussels says the
EPPO will be able to investigate, prosecute and bring to court any offences
against the EU budget, such as tax evasion, corruption and major cross-border
VAT fraud. The agency, which is set to start its activity next year, is meant
to make up for the EU’s shortcomings in terms of combating crime. The European
Antifraud Office (OLAF) is the only independent agency investigating European
fund fraud, but it cannot prosecute cases, it can only make recommendations to
national authorities. 22 states have signed up for the European Prosecutor’s
Office, including Romania. Sacked from the helm of the National Anticorruption
Directorate in June last year, Laura Codruta Kovesi has been repeatedly praised
for her activity as a prosecutor, which led to the conviction of important
ministers, mayors and MPs.

(Translated by V. Palcu)