Greece: EPPO dismisses case against Member of European Parliament Maria Spyraki

(Luxembourg, 8 February 2024) – The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) has decided to dismiss its proceedings against Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Ms Maria Spyraki, in a case of suspected fraud in relation to the management of the parliamentary allowance, and in particular concerning the remuneration of Accredited Parliamentary Assistants.

Article 50(1) of the applicable Greek Criminal Procedural Code stipulates that the prosecutor shall refrain from criminal prosecution if the person to whom the criminal act is attributed completely reimburses the victim. Given that the suspect has fully repaired the damage caused to the victim, in this case the European Union, the decision to dismiss the case was made in line with the applicable Greek legislation, on a proposal of the competent European Delegated Prosecutor in Greece, and validated by the responsible Permanent Chamber of the EPPO.

The EPPO is of the view that Article 50(1) of the Greek Criminal Procedural Code is not in conformity with the Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union (in particular Article 325(1)), as well as with Directive (EU) 2017/1371 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 July 2017 on the fight against fraud to the Union’s financial interests by means of criminal law (in particular Article 7(1)).

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.