UNDER THE PRESIDENCY OF JAVIER ZARZALEJOS, LIBE HOLDS THE HEARING OF THE CANDIDATES FOR EUROPEAN CHIEF PROSECUTOR

The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE), in association with the Committee on Budgetary Control (CONT), organized the public hearing of the candidates for the post of European Chief Prosecutor, chaired by the President of the LIBE Committee, Javier Zarzalejos.

The shortlisted candidates

Stefano Castellani, Ingrid Maschl-Clausen, Andrés Ritter, and Emilio Jesús Sánchez Ulled presented their vision for leading the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), answered questions from members of the LIBE and CONT committees, and explained how they intend to investigate and bring to justice, with independence, professionalism, and integrity, crimes affecting the financial interests of the European Union.

The European Chief Prosecutor heads the European Public Prosecutor’s Office for a single, non-renewable term of seven years and is responsible for organizing its work and directing the activities of this independent EU prosecution body, in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2017/1939.

The LIBE Committee plays a central role in the appointment process by:

• holding public hearings that ensure transparency,
• assessing the candidates’ experience, independence, and strategic approach, and
• preparing the European Parliament’s position on the appointment, which must be made by common accord with the Council of the European Union.

Following the vote, Andrés Ritter, a German national and current Deputy European Prosecutor, was elected as the new European Chief Prosecutor with 46 votes in favor, and will succeed Laura Codruța Kövesi at the head of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office next year.