EPPO requests an increase in budget to allow for successful enlargement of EPPO zone

(Luxembourg, 23 February 2024) – This week, the College of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) requested an increase to the EPPO’s budget for 2024 from the European Parliament, the Council of the EU and the European Commission. This is an urgent request, motivated by the impending accession of new Member States (Poland and possibly Sweden) to the EPPO, as well as the acceleration of the disbursement of NextGenerationEU funding.

European Chief Prosecutor Laura Kövesi: ‘As our Annual Report 2023 will soon show, the EPPO continues to improve the protection of the financial interests of the EU, as well as the budgets of its Member States. In order to live up to the expectations of EU citizens, especially as the disbursement of NextGenerationEU funding is accelerating, we need to ensure that the enlargement of the EPPO zone to Poland (and possibly Sweden) in the course of this year is a success. With this objective in mind, considering the challenges ahead of us, we need more staff for operational and administrative support in Luxembourg, as well as more European Delegated Prosecutors.’

The College of the EPPO requested an increase to the EPPO’s budget in 2024 of €7.8 million, to reach a total of €79.7 million.

The EPPO is the independent public prosecution office of the European Union. It is responsible for investigating, prosecuting and bringing to judgment crimes against the financial interests of the EU.