European prosecutors on Tuesday expressed concern at plans by the Greek government to accelerate the investigation, by the Greek judiciary, of criminal offenses allegedly committed by lawmakers.
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office said that “based on what we know about the intended legislative change, we are particularly concerned by the speed of the legislative process.”
A proposed amendment tabled in Parliament late Monday and due to be voted on later Tuesday stipulates that in criminal cases involving lawmakers a special investigative judge must handle the investigation “departing from any other general or specific provision.”
This is understood to include cases being handled by the EPPO.
“The potential implications of the changes are wide ranging and their rushed adoption leaving no meaningful opportunity for proper scrutiny or debate, appears at odds with the principle of sincere cooperation when it comes to the protection of the financial interests of the EU in Greece,” the EPPO said.
