Strengthening the Future of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office

Prof. Dr. Dominik Brodowski LL.M.; Dr. Sebastian Trautmann

doi:10.5771/9783748967415

Summary

In June 2021, the newly established European Public Prosecutor‘s Office (EPPO) began carrying out its duties of investigating and prosecuting crimes against the financial interests of the European Union. Based on initial practical experience and theoretical reflections on the EPPO’s functioning, several areas for improvement in its legal framework–particularly Council Regulation (EU) 2017/1939 (EPPO Regulation)–have emerged. This volume brings together contributions from practitioners, regulators, and academics analysing EPPO’s construction, and is aimed at strengthening its role in the European Area of Freedom, Security and Justice.
With contributions by Garonne Bezjak | Dominik Brodowski | Marius Bulancea | Michele Caianiello | Gabriella Di Paolo | Hans-Holger Herrnfeld | Luis Jakobi | Laura Kövesi | Katalin Ligeti | Isadora Neroni Rezende | Anneke Petzsche | Luca Pressacco | Lorenzo Salazar | Sebastian Trautmann | Andrea Venegoni | Petra Vítková | Liane Wörner

Search publication

Bibliographic data

Edition: 1/2026
Copyright year: 2026
ISBN-Print: 978-3-7560-3730-8
ISBN-Online: 978-3-7489-6741-5
Publisher: Nomos, Baden-Baden
Series: Saarbrücker Beiträge zur Europaforschung
Volume: 7
Language: English
Pages: 272
Product type: Edited Book

PrefacePages 1 - 8 Download chapter (PDF)
1. A strong European Public Prosecutor’s OfficeLaura Kövesi Download chapter (PDF)
1. Dominik Brodowski, Sebastian Trautmann Download chapter (PDF)
  1. 1 The EPPO as motor for transformation in the European ‘Area of Freedom, Security and Justice’
  2. 2 The need to further strengthen the EPPO
  3. 3 Overview of the contributions
1. Luca Pressacco Download chapter (PDF)
  1. 1 Eppur si muove – EPPO si muove
  2. 2 The EPPO at a critical juncture
  3. 1. 3.1 Material competences
    2. 3.1.2 Exercise of the competences
    3. 3.2 The construction of the EPPO
2. Gabriella Di Paolo Download chapter (PDF)
  1. 1 Introduction: the integration of the European Prosecutor within national criminal justice systems and the interaction between the EPPO Regulation and national law
  2. 1. 2.1 The ‘model’ of criminal investigations
    2. 2.2 Investigative measures affecting fundamental rights
    3. 1. 2.3.1 The dismissal of the case
      2. 2.3.2 Simplified procedures, trial, and appellate remedies
    4. 2.4 Basic principles of the EPPO’s activities and data protection
  3. 3 Final remarks
3. Petra Vítková Download chapter (PDF)
  1. 1 Introduction
  2. 2 Cross-border investigations within the EPPO
  3. 3 The influence of the EPPO being a ‘single Office‘
  4. 4 The EPPO’s transformative power
4. Andrea Venegoni Download chapter (PDF)
  1. 1 The Permanent Chambers shall: structure and organisation
  2. 2 The functioning of the Permanent Chambers
5. Liane Wörner Download chapter (PDF)
  1. 1 Introduction – Future model or pipe dream
  2. 2 Guardian of the rule of law
  3. 3 Area 1 – The functioning of the Permanent Chamber
  4. 4 Area 2 – The Article 31 problem
  5. 5 Alternatives
1. Anneke Petzsche Download chapter (PDF)
  1. 1. 1.1 Material scope of competence
    2. 1.2 The legal basis for expansion
  2. 1. 1. 2.1.1 Detection
      2. 2.1.2 Investigation and prosecution
      3. 2.1.3 Cooperation
      4. 2.1.4 Structure of the EPPO
    2. 1. 2.2.1 Feasibility
      2. 2.2.2 Structural barriers
    3. 1. 2.3.1 A European interest
      2. 2.3.2 An added benefit
      3. 2.3.3 Structural requirements
    4. 1. 2.4.1 Russia sanctions
      2. 2.4.2 Terrorism
  3. 1. 3.1 Time for consolidation
    2. 3.2 A possible way into the future
  4. 4 Conclusion
2. Luca Pressacco Download chapter (PDF)
  1. 1 Introduction
  2. 1. 2.1 The setting of the investigation: Public prosecutor versus Investigative Judge
    2. 2.2 Prosecutorial decisions: Legality versus Opportunity
  3. 1. 1. 3.1.1 The subject matter of the conflict
      2. 3.1.2 Design of the dispute resolution mechanism
      3. 3.1.3 The authority settling the dispute
    2. 3.2 Ratio Legis
  4. 4 A glimpse into judicial practice
  5. 5 Potential amendments to the EPPO Regulation
1. Hans-Holger Herrnfeld Download chapter (PDF)
  1. 1 Introduction
  2. 1. 2.1 Adoption, assignment and enforcement of cross-border measures
    2. 1. 2.2.1 In any case, there shall be only a ‘single judicial authorisation’
      2. 2.2.2 Judicial authorisation required in both Member States or only in the Member State of the assisting EDP
      3. 2.2.3 Judicial authorisation required only in the Member State of the handling EDP
  3. 1. 3.1 The interpretation of Article 31 of the EPPO Regulation by the ECJ
    2. 1. 3.2.1 What does the ECJ mean by ‘matters concerning the enforcement’?
      2. 3.2.2 When is a judicial authorisation considered as being ‘required’?
      3. 3.2.3 What is the purpose of the third subparagraph of Article 31(3)?
      4. 3.2.4 What are the consequences of the ECJ’s judgment in respect of the need to exercise prior judicial review?
  4. 4 Proposals for a possible revision of Article 31 of the EPPO Regulation
  5. 5 Conclusion
2. Michele Caianiello, Isadora Neroni Rezende Download chapter (PDF)
  1. 1 Introduction
  2. 2 Article 37: between minimalism and pragmatism
  3. 3 The strengths and limits of the current model
  4. 4 The insufficiency of case law in addressing the matter
  5. 5 Proposals for reform: a flexible yet structured exclusionary framework
  6. 6 Conclusion
3. Liane Wörner, Luis Jakobi Download chapter (PDF)
  1. 1 Significance of Article 41 of the EPPO Regulation
  2. 2 The balance between effective prosecution and safeguarding the interests of the defendant as a general problem of Europeanisation
  3. 1. 3.1 The significance of Article 31 of the EPPO Regulation
    2. 3.2 The interplay between Article 31 and 41 of the EPPO Regulation
    3. 3.3 Withdrawal of the defendant’s rights by turning away from mutual recognition
  4. 1. 4.1 Short-term adjustment options
    2. 4.2 A glimpse into a future of balance
4. Katalin Ligeti Download chapter (PDF)
  1. 1 Introduction
  2. 2 Rules on judicial review in the EPPO Regulation
  3. 1. 3.1 G.K. and Others
    2. 3.2 EPPO v I.R.O. and F.J.L.R.
  4. 1. 4.1 National decisions on procedural acts at the decentralised level
    2. 4.2 National decisions on procedural acts at the central level
  5. 5 Conclusions: substantive gaps in judicial protection by national courts?
1. Lorenzo Salazar Download chapter (PDF)
  1. 1. 1.1 Substantive and functional aspects
    2. 1.2 Institutional guarantees of independence
  2. 2 Accountability as a corollary of independence
  3. 3 Budgetary autonomy as a pillar of independence
  4. 4 The role and status of EDPs
  5. 5 Staff of the EPPO and local Support Personnel: challenges to consistency and independence
  6. 6 Concluding Remarks and possible Policy Recommendations
2. Garonne Bezjak Download chapter (PDF)
  1. 1 The role of the EDPs within the EPPO
  2. 1. 2.1 The structural organisation of the EDPs
    2. 2.2 Selection procedure
    3. 1. 2.3.1 The EU framework
      2. 2.3.2 The national German framework
      3. 2.3.3.1 Obligation of loyalty (Treuepflicht)
        2.3.3.2 Duration of service as an EDP
        2.3.3.3 Career or status in the national prosecution system
        2.3.3.4 EDPs as temporary agents as a possible solution
      4. 2.3.4 Conclusion
    4. 2.4 The support staff
  3. 3 Summary
3. Marius Bulancea Download chapter (PDF)
  1. 1 Introduction
  2. 2 Balancing efficiency and legality: the dilemma of prosecutorial performance metrics
  3. 3 Accountability to the European Parliament: democratic oversight and strategic input
  4. 4 Accountability to the Council: intergovernmental cooperation and strategic alignment
  5. 5 Accountability to the Commission: strategic integration
  6. 6 Accountability to national parliaments: bridging the gap and strategic collaboration
  7. 7 The Annual Report: a key contribution
  8. 8 Illustrative example: VAT fraud related to cross-border e-commerce, and how the report can be used to create policy
  9. 9 Policy implications and actions
  10. 10 Conclusion
4. Dominik Brodowski Download chapter (PDF)
  1. 1 The EPPO’s independence and its structural boundaries
  2. 1. 2.1 No judicial review according to national law?
    2. 2.2 No judicial review of Permanent Chamber decisions?
  3. 3 The EPPO’s independence through judicial review
  4. 4 Suggestions to strengthen the EPPO’s independence and legal review
List of AuthorsPages 271 - 272 Download chapter (PDF)