The European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO): Introductory remarks

Abstract

These introductory remarks deal with the reasons why the EPPO is perceived by some as a controversial body. These reasons are mirrored with the problem identification and the causes thereof. The size of EU fraud and related corruption and money laundering, both at the income and expenditure side, is quite significant. There is also a strong enforcement deficit in the Member States, especially in the case of complex transnational VAT and customs fraud cases. Three fields of action are potentially of interest for the EPPO: VAT, customs and smuggling, and fraud and corruption within the EU institutions. This leads to the analysis of what the potential added value of the EPPO could be, both from a technical fraud perspective as from a political legitimacy perspective. Finally, the introduction deals with the ongoing negotiations on the EPPO proposal, taking into account the mandate and rationale of Article 86 TFEU in the framework of the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice.