2024-01-29 20:27 update: 2024-01-30, 20:55
Photo PAP/Radek Pietruszka
The European Chief Prosecutor has announced that the European Public Prosecutor's Office together with Poland's prosecutor's offices will be fighting against organised and financial crime as soon as Poland has joined the institution.
Addressing a joint press conference with Polish Justice Minister and Prosecutor General Adam Bodnar, in Warsaw on Monday, Laura Kovesi said that such cooperation was necessary as there was no state which was completely free of corruption and financial crime.
Kovesi, who heads the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO), said that the belief that a single country could fight against such crimes alone was "a dangerous illusion."
Referring to Poland's plan to join the EPPO, Kovesi said that all actions taken by the European Public Prosecutor's Office on Poland's territory would be conducted in accordance with Polish laws while all proceedings would be carried out before Polish courts.
Minister Bodnar said that Poland had been waiting for a response from the European Commission regarding its application to join the EPPO.
According to Bodnar, "this is an important process for the Polish prosecution, a revolutionary one."
Having signed the documents paving the way for Poland to join the EPPO on January 5, Minister Bodnar said he expected no objections to the move from the EC.
The move was a reversal of the previous Law and Justice (PiS) government's position, which was at odds with EU authorities over a number of issues.
The rule of law in Poland was a key bone of contention between Warsaw and Brussels under the previous government.
The European Public Prosecutor is the independent public prosecutor of the EU for matters affecting its financial interests.
Out of the 27 member states that make up the bloc, 22 have so far joined. Poland is not one of them yet. (PAP)
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