Laura Codruța Kovesi’s seven-year mandate as head of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) began with promises of support for this institution and ended with a series of conflicts, both with national governments and with the leadership of the European Commission. Those who feared that the Romanian prosecutor was steering Europe towards a „Ceaușescu-style justice” can now breathe a little easier, according to an analysis published in the Greek press.
Laura Codruța Kövesi could be described as the European version of the „American Dream”: she started from the city of Sfântu Gheorghe, in Transylvania, becoming the first woman and the youngest person ever to hold the position of Romania’s Prosecutor General, and later became the first chief prosecutor in the history of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, writes Kathimerini.
The publication notes the contrast between the beginning and the end of Laura Codruța Kovesi's mandate at the head of the European institution:
- When she took over the leadership of the EPPO, she was supported by grand declarations from European institutions about the importance of the new body and their commitment to support its activity, emphasizing that every euro from EU funds counts.
- At the end of her mandate, she entered into open conflict with several governments within the community bloc, including that of Greece, as well as with the leadership of the European Commission.
Kovesi's portrait, between lights and shadows
The publication shows that the head of the EPPO did not hesitate to involve the new institution in political confrontations, often making unusually sharp public statements for someone in her role.
On one hand, her harsh remarks and the handling of cases striking at the very heart of the political system gave both her and the EPPO an almost mythical status, that of fighters against corruption. On the other hand, Kovesi was accused of overstepping her duties and abusing her powers for political purposes.
Those worried that Kövesi brought "Ceaușescu-style justice" to Europe can now breathe easier, knowing that the rule of law is restored, once a German prosecutor, Andres Ritter (62 years old), took over the leadership of the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) on November 1. However, they should also consider the fact that he was Kövesi's choice to succeed her, the analysis emphasizes.
Kovesi stated that now the biggest challenge for her successor is maintaining the independence of the EPPO, at a time when no one seems willing to help the institution properly fulfill its duties.
This leadership change comes in the context of Brussels considering a reform of the EU's anti-fraud framework. Such a measure could grant the EPPO broader powers to investigate frauds targeting the EU's next long-term budget and to protect the Union's funds, even as member states are already engaged in intense disputes over that budget.
The major battles fought by Kovesi: From "Pfizergate" to the Brussels raids
The cited publication reviews the major cases Kovesi leaves behind, including the investigation into the awarding of the contract for the EU Diplomatic Academy to the College of Europe.
The most controversial case under the attention of the European Public Prosecutor's Office is probably "Pfizergate", which concerns how the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and Pfizer's CEO, Albert Bourla, negotiated contracts for the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic. A criminal complaint filed in Belgium mentions alleged offenses such as "interference in the exercise of public functions, destruction of SMS messages, corruption, and conflict of interest."
The EPPO took over the investigation from Belgian authorities in 2024, and since then no charges have been filed against anyone. According to Politico, the European Commission President has not yet given statements in this case, although she was summoned by the EPPO a few months ago, leaving the investigation open.
Among Kovesi's last actions in office were raids carried out by the EPPO on October 21 at the Brussels and Strasbourg headquarters of the far-right group "Patriots for Europe" in the European Parliament, as part of an investigation into the alleged misuse of millions of euros in EU funds.
The investigation also targets figures from the French far-right, including Jordan Bardella, who succeeded Marine Le Pen as leader of the "National Rally" party (Rassemblement National).
The "red line" drawn by Kovesi
The analysis also mentions actions by the European Public Prosecutor's Office targeting Greece.
One of Kövesi's last actions before the end of her mandate was the EPPO's referral to the Council of State – the highest administrative court in Greece – challenging presidential decrees that extended the mandates of delegated European prosecutors from Greece by two years.
The EPPO College in Luxembourg had requested a five-year extension of the mandates. However, the administrative plenary of the Supreme Court of Greece overwhelmingly rejected a similar challenge.
Currently, the EPPO invokes EU regulations and the principle of the primacy of Union law, requesting the referral to the Court of Justice of the European Union for a preliminary ruling. In a statement given to Politico last week, Kövesi said: "The most blatant attempt to intimidate the EPPO took place in Greece, where we faced this issue regarding the renewal of the mandates of the delegated European prosecutors."
In April, Kovesi established that the full renewal of the five-year mandates of the three prosecutors represents a "red line" for Athens. She wondered who would benefit if the cases handled by them remained unresolved and warned that the dispute would eventually reach the EU Court of Justice. Greece is the only country where such a problem has arisen, she emphasized.
In May, Kovesi raised this issue – along with legislative changes introduced by the Ministry of Justice – in a letter addressed to the European Commission, expressing concerns about the EPPO's ability to carry out its work in Greece.
The OPEKEPE scandal
In the OPEKEPE agricultural subsidy scandal, the case transmitted to Parliament in April, requesting the lifting of immunity for 11 parliamentarians, concerned alleged offenses committed in 2021. The investigation regarding the following years is ongoing and it is unclear when additional cases will be forwarded to judicial authorities.
In the 2021 case, the EPPO filed charges in July against 22 individuals, including four sitting parliamentarians and several former high-ranking public officials. However, despite a provision supported by the Government aimed at accelerating judicial procedures involving parliamentarians, all three cases in which trials should already have started have been postponed.
Kövesi defended how the prosecutors managed the case, although in the end charges were filed against only four of the 11 parliamentarians whose immunity lifting had been requested by the EPPO. "When we request the lifting of immunity, it is not about guilt. It is just a condition that allows prosecutors to conduct the investigation and gather evidence," she said.
It remains to be seen whether her successor will be as unflappable in the face of the political repercussions of legal proceedings, concludes the Greek publication.
T.D.