The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) has challenged a Greek judicial decision limiting the extension of the terms of three delegated European prosecutors to two years instead of five, in a dispute that could ultimately reach the European Union’s highest court.
The appeal will be considered next week by the administrative plenary of Greece’s Supreme Court (Areios Pagos). The EPPO is seeking to overturn a decision extending the mandates of prosecutors Popi Papandreou, Charikleia Thanou and Dionysios Mouzakis by only two years.
The dispute arose after Greece’s Supreme Judicial Council approved the shorter extension, prompting objections from the EPPO. Legal experts say the case could eventually be referred to the Court of Justice of the European Union, a possibility previously raised by EPPO chief Laura Kovesi during a visit to Greece.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Judicial Council is due to meet on Thursday to select three additional European delegated prosecutors – one appellate prosecutor and two first-instance prosecutors — to strengthen the Greek arm of the EPPO, following a request by Kovesi.
EPPO JUSTICE CORRUPTION FRAUD LAURA KOVESI EU
