site.btaEuropean Public Prosecutor's Office Initiates Disciplinary Proceedings against European Prosecutor from Bulgaria

The College of the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) has decided to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the European Prosecutor from Bulgaria, Teodora Georgieva, the EPPO press office said on Thursday. European Chief Prosecutor Laura Kovesi notified the European Parliament, the Council of the EU, and the European Commission about the decision.

Georgieva will remain temporarily suspended from her position for the duration of the disciplinary proceedings, the press release said. No further information will be made public while the disciplinary procedure is ongoing.

Responsibility for assessing disciplinary proceedings lies with the European Parliament, the Council of the EU, and the European Commission. The EPPO press office stressed that unquestionable independence is a fundamental requirement for the appointment of European prosecutors and for their ability to carry out their duties during their term of office.

European prosecutors are appointed by the Council of the EU. The EPPO is the EU’s independent prosecution authority. It is responsible for investigating, prosecuting, and bringing to judgment crimes against the financial interests of the EU.

Teodora Georgieva is a former administrative judge at the appellate level, serving at the Administrative Court of Sofia City. Prior to that, she worked as a prosecutor at the Sofia District and Regional Prosecutor’s Offices. Georgieva holds a doctoral degree in administrative law and judicial review from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. In July 2020, she was confirmed as the European Prosecutor representing Bulgaria.

At the end of March, the EPPO announced it had decided to launch an internal administrative investigation into possible misconduct by the Bulgarian European Prosecutor, in the context of an ongoing EPPO case. The institution confirmed to the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) that the Bulgarian representative had been temporarily suspended from office.