In the future, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (“EPPO”) will homogeneously prosecute criminal offenses against the EU’s financial interests. The EPPO is an independent authority meant to prevent misuse and embezzlement of EU funds by investigating fraud, corruption, and money laundering. It is expected to play a decisive role in checking whether money provided by the EU in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic has been requested or used fraudulently by corporations.
The EPPO’s administrative structure is currently being set up to make way for its operational phase, as it is supposed to be fully functioning soon. By implementing the EPPO, the EU aims to overcome existing obstacles to crossborder investigations and prosecute criminal offenses against the EU’s financial interests more effectively. We expect more coordinated crossborder investigations in Europe as a whole, as the EPPO is an important step towards a more coherent criminal and white-collar crime prosecution system within the EU.
In light of the above, this memorandum offers a brief overview of the structure and powers of the EPPO as well as its incorporation into the national legislation of the main European jurisdictions, including France, Germany, Italy, Portugal and Spain.
To view the document please use the following link:
>> EPPO Client Information
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