Reports claim that members of the largest group in the European Parliament are involved in the misuse of EU funds.
The European People’s Party (EPP) has denied having been approached by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) as part of an investigation the body is carrying out into embezzlement at the European Parliament.
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office confirmed to Euronews in a press release that it was the subject of an “ongoing investigation into allegations of misappropriation of European funds committed in Belgium by members of a political group in the European Parliament.”
The media linked the investigation to the EPP, but the party published a statement said Wednesday that it had “not been contacted by Belgian authorities, nor by any other law enforcement agency regarding a possible investigation of any nature.”
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office said its investigation so far “is limited only to the facts and there are no suspects”, and noted that it does not comment on ongoing investigations or publicly confirm which cases he works, in order to avoid endangering any ongoing procedures and their results.
The EPP Group, for its part, affirmed that it would “extend its full cooperation with the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, as well as with any other national or European authority, if ever contacted”.
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office’s mission is to combat fraud against EU finances and it therefore has the power to investigate and prosecute crimes affecting the EU’s financial interests, including the misuse of funds. by members of the European Parliament.