European Chief Prosecutor Laura Kovesi has told the European Commission that recent Greek legislative and judicial decisions are undermining the ability of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) to operate effectively in Greece.
In a statement, the EPPO said Kovesi informed Brussels that a recently adopted Greek legislative amendment introducing a special procedure for investigating crimes allegedly committed by politicians has had a “negative effect” on the office’s capacity “to effectively investigate and prosecute offenses under its competence.”
She also said the measures have created an “adverse effect on the independent and effective functioning of the EPPO in Greece.”
Last year, the EPPO commenced a string of probes into the fraud of EU farm subsidies by farmers and state officials – including MPs with the ruling New Democracy party – in Greece.
Kovesi also raised concerns over the recent refusal by Greece’s Supreme Judicial Council to renew the mandates of three European Delegated Prosecutors for a five-year term, arguing that the decision “has a negative effect on the EPPO’s independence in Greece.”
