site.bta EU Justice Ministers Renew Talks on Establishment of European Public Prosecutor's Office

EU Justice Ministers Renew Talks on Establishment of European Public Prosecutor's Office

Brussels, March 29 (BTA) - Caretaker Justice Minister Maria Pavlova and her counterparts from 12 EU member states signed letters in Brussels on Tuesday on strengthened cooperation for the establishment of European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO), the Bulgarian Justice Ministry said.

The EPPO will be an independent Union body with the authority to investigate and prosecute EU-fraud and other crimes affecting the Union financial interests. The establishment of the EPPO will bring about substantial change in the way the Union's financial interests are protected. It will combine European and national law-enforcement efforts in a unified, seamless and efficient approach to counter EU-fraud.

The talks were interrupted on March 3 due to the lack of unanimity regarding the relevant regulation, which is to be adopted. The letters are expected to be signed by the justice ministers of another four member states and the talks are to be completed by the end of 2017.

The Bulgarian side expressed a wish for the establishment of the EPPO as soon as possible and the inclusion of a maximum number of member states in it.

The justice ministers discussed the improvement of cooperation and coordination in the areas of criminal justice in the cyberspace.