European Public Prosecutor's Office
The European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) has the power to investigate, prosecute and bring to judgment crimes against the EU budget.
The EU prosecutor
The European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) is an independent body of the European Union responsible for investigating, prosecuting and bringing to judgment crimes against the financial interests of the EU, including:
- fraud
- corruption
- money laundering
- cross-border VAT fraud
The EPPO started operations on 1 June 2021.
EU institutions and bodies, as well as the competent authorities of the 25 member states which joined the EPPO, must report to the EPPO any criminal conduct affecting the EU budget. Individuals can also report alleged cases of fraud and other crimes.
Participating member states
So far, 25 EU countries have decided to join the effort to protect the EU budget against fraud.
These are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia Spain and Sweden.
Following Hungary's request to join in May 2026, the European Commission confirmed its participation in EPPO on 10 July 2026. Hungary became the 25th participating member state on 3 August 2026.
Denmark and Ireland remain outside the EPPO, as both have opt-outs from EU cooperation on justice and home affairs.
Why the EPPO was established
Before the EPPO became operational, only national authorities could investigate crimes affecting the EU's financial interests – but with limited tools, as their powers stop at national borders.
Similarly, the EU bodies that pre-dated the EPPO in this field, such as the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) and the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice (Eurojust), are unable to launch criminal investigations or carry out prosecutions in member states.
EPPO helps to overcome these shortcomings and therefore to crack down on crimes against the EU budget.
The EPPO's role and structure
Role
The EPPO's mission is to tackle fraud against the EU's finances. It has the power to investigate and prosecute crimes affecting the EU's financial interests.
The EPPO conducts cross-border investigations into fraud involving sums of over €10 000 in EU funds, or into cross-border VAT fraud cases involving damages of above €10 million. It also works hand in hand with national law enforcement authorities. It also works closely with other bodies like Eurojust and Europol.
Structure
The EPPO has a two-tiered structure, consisting of a central level and a national level.
Central level
The central level is based in Luxembourg and consists of the European chief prosecutor and the college of prosecutors.
The European chief prosecutor heads the EPPO, organises its work and represents the office in its relations with EU institutions, member states and non-EU countries.
In October 2019, Laura Codruţa Kövesi was appointed the first European chief prosecutor.
In March 2026 the Council agreed to appoint Andrés Ritter as the new European chief prosecutor, with effect from 1 November 2026. The European chief prosecutor is appointed by common agreement between the Council and the European Parliament.
The college of prosecutors is the EPPO's main strategic and supervisory body. It defines the EPPO's strategy, adopts its internal rules and ensures a consistent approach to investigations and prosecutions across all participating member states.
It is made up of the European chief prosecutor and the prosecutors of the participating member states. The Council plays an important role in appointing European prosecutors. Each participating member state nominates candidates for the position, and following an independent assessment, the Council appoints one European prosecutor for each member state.
The permanent chambers monitor and direct the investigations and take operational decisions.
National level
The national level consists of the European delegated prosecutors.
The European delegated prosecutors in the 25 participating EU countries are responsible for conducting criminal investigations and prosecutions. They operate with complete independence from their national authorities.
How EPPO was established
The European Commission submitted its proposal to establish a European Public Prosecutor's Office back in 2013. In order for it to be adopted, the Council had to agree unanimously and obtain the European Parliament's consent.
After over three years of negotiations, the Council failed to reach unanimous agreement on the proposal. The absence of unanimity was registered by the Council in February 2017 and confirmed by the European Council the following month.
In this type of situation, EU treaties allow a group of at least nine member states to established enhanced cooperation.
In April 2017, enhanced cooperation on the EPPO was launched. In October 2017, 20 member states agreed to establish the EPPO and the Council adopted the EPPO regulation, which entered into force on 20 November 2017.
Today, all EU member states except Denmark and Ireland participate in the EPPO, following Hungary's accession in August 2026.
Last review: 3 August 2026