The European Parliament on Tuesday (19 May) voted to shield centre-right MEP Angelika Niebler from prosecution, avoiding an investigation by the European public prosecutor’s office (EPPO) over her alleged misuse of EU funds.
Tuesday’s secret vote was backed by 309 MEPs, 283 against, with 53 abstentions.
Last November, Der Spiegel and subsequently Politico presented plausible allegations of the misuse of allocated EU funds by Niebler, of the centre-right European People’s Party group (EPP).
From the €30,769 that German MEPs get to spend on staff, in the European parliament or at home in their constituency office, Niebler has been accused of spending for private purposes, including the hiring of local assistants.
The European chief prosecutor requested the lifting of Neibler’s immunity on 21 July last year.
