The European Commission Brings Up Again the Idea for a European Public Prosecutor

After EUROJUST an “organization”created by the European Union on December 6, 2001 to help coordinate the investigation and prosecution of serious cross-border crime, the European Commission adopted a proposal (Green Paper) made by Michaele Schreyer, and is moving toward the creation of a single European prosecuting institution, the European Public Prosecutor. It is not the first time that the idea for such as institution was presented. In 2000 the Commission proposed a special article (280a) for the Nice Treaty, setting up the provisions for a European Public Prosecutor, but the proposal was not accepted at the Nice Summit. Now the great efforts are being made at international level to combat economic and financial crime which jeopardize the European Union’s financial interests, the Commission seems to have chosen to bring up the idea again. All institutions and circle concerned about the European Public Prosecutor are asked for their views, and opinions the Green Paper to eavesdrop the reaction to the decree of a unitary prosecution body. So far every country in the European Union is in favor of the institution of the European Public Prosecutor apart from the United Kingdom and Denmark, which since June 2000 have been considering it as an unnecessary and impractical option raising issues regarding accountability.