www.gandul.ro/international/laura-codruta-kovesi-s

Laura Codruța Kovesi concludes her seven-year term as head of the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) with concerns over funding, bureaucratic hurdles, and lack of cooperation from some EU officials. In an interview with POLITICO, she highlights financial constraints, stating that the EPPO requires 230 delegated European prosecutors but only has funding for 180. Kovesi criticizes the European Commission's handling of the budget, particularly regarding Hungary, and notes similar issues in Poland. She identifies underfunding, legislative delays, and bureaucratic complexities as major challenges. Kovesi warns that the independence of the EPPO is at risk due to political decisions and emphasizes the need for operational needs to be prioritized over administrative discussions. Despite these challenges, she believes the EPPO has become more effective in combating fraud. The leadership will transition to German prosecutor Andrés Ritter on November 1, who will face these ongoing issues.