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Poland’s Membership in the European Public Prosecutor’s Office Becomes a Fact

13.12.2024

"We have joined the European Public Prosecutor’s Office. This decision is of immense importance. I am happy that, together with the Minister of Justice of Sweden, we can announce it. It is a symbol of deepening our European integration and loyalty to European institutions, as well as an important step on the path to rebuilding the rule of law in Poland," said Minister of Justice and Prosecutor General Adam Bodnar today (December 13) in Brussels.

From left to right: Gunnar STRÖMMER (Minister for Justice, Sweden), Adam BODNAR (Minister for Justice, Poland)

The Minister, who participated in the EU Council meeting on Justice and Home Affairs, spoke at a joint press conference with the Swedish Minister of Justice, Gunnar Strömmer. Sweden, along with Poland, joined the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) after the completion of procedures related to the appointment of representatives from both countries to the EPPO headquarters in Luxembourg.
Minister Adam Bodnar recalled that the application for Poland’s prosecution service to join the European Public Prosecutor’s Office was sent exactly one year ago—on the first day of his term in office. "This was followed by a formal letter from the Polish government, the European Commission’s approval, and subsequent steps that led us to today’s date," he added.

Fighting Corruption

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), based in Luxembourg, is an independent EU body responsible for conducting investigations, prosecuting, and bringing to justice perpetrators of crimes against the EU’s financial interests. This includes combating corruption, money laundering, and cross-border VAT fraud exceeding €10 million. The EPPO works closely with national law enforcement agencies as well as Eurojust and Europol. It conducts prosecutorial activities and performs prosecutorial functions in the competent courts of the member states.
"This means that if Poland receives any EU funds, there is a guarantee that they will not be misused or diverted to purposes other than those intended. If anyone commits a crime related to the misuse of these funds, the investigation will be conducted by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office," emphasized Adam Bodnar.

Cross-Border Cooperation

"This also creates an opportunity for the emergence in our country of a group of highly trained prosecutors capable of cooperating on a cross-border level. It concerns multi-million-euro cases when organized criminal groups operate across the territories of several EU member states," added the Minister of Justice.

The first two offices of European prosecutors in Poland will be established in Warsaw and Katowice. Initially, eight European prosecutors will operate in the country, with the number set to increase to 24 by 2026–2027.

Poland and Sweden are now among the 24 countries belonging to the European Public Prosecutor’s Office. The only EU member states not participating in this institution are Denmark, Ireland, and Hungary.

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