By 2026, Hungary and Denmark, which has an opt-out, might be the only member states that haven’t joined the EPPO
January 28. 2025. – 08:06 AM
The European Parliament's Committee on Petitions discussed the request of a private citizen requesting that Hungary join the EU's Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) on Monday. Anyone can submit a complaint or a request to this EP committee on matters falling within the EU's competence.
I thank the submitter for the question, but I believe I shall disappoint them,
a representative of the European Commission's Justice Department began their answer. The EU Public Prosecutor's Office was set up through enhanced cooperation, which means that not everyone is obliged to join. Apart from Denmark, which has been given a general opt-out from the areas of freedom, security and justice, only Hungary and Ireland have not joined. The latter's government has indicated that it plans to join by the summer of 2026, by which time Hungary – although it could join – might remain the only country that is not a member of the EPPO. (Denmark would first have to hold a referendum about giving up its judicial opt-out.) The panel would of course welcome Hungary's membership, the option is available, but it is not compulsory and it is up to each country to decide.
Even if they are not members of the EPPO, member states still have an obligation under the Treaties (the EU's quasi-constitution) to protect the EU's common financial interests and to provide adequate deterrence. Providing timely and effective assistance for the work of the EPPO is required from member states not participating in enhanced cooperation as well. In fact, the Hungarian and EU prosecuting authorities entered into an agreement to this effect in 2021, and there are currently more than 80 proceedings in which they are cooperating, the answer concluded.
Systemic corruption is part of everyday life in Hungary, Dóra Dávid of the Tisza Party, who was the first MEP to speak, said. The Tisza Party politician cited the results of a 2024 Eurobarometer survey which found that 88 percent of Hungarians feel that corruption is widespread, and nearly 700,000 people have signed a petition for accession. "Rejecting the accession not only sends a clear message from the government to the international community that fighting corruption is not a priority in Hungary", but also to the Hungarian people: we would rather lose billions in EU funding than see the government adopt strong measures to "eradicate and detect the all- pervading corruption". Dávid urged the body to keep the petition open so that they could request information from the government.
Everybody on the continent knows that Viktor Orbán is leading the most corrupt government in Europe, Csaba Molnár said. The DK MEP said that he felt that the problem was not being tackled effectively. He recalled that the previous US administration sanctioned one of the Orbán government's most powerful ministers, Antán Rogán on the grounds of corruption, but "there is no one to investigate these cases", and also pointed out that the auditors of OLAF, the EU's anti-fraud office, were surveilled by the Hungarian authorities. Accession would also be in the interest of EU taxpayers. He explained that he is aware that accession was not mandatory, but requested that the European Commission make it a precondition for accessing EU funds.
"I did not expect anything less than Tisza and DK falling into each other's arms as usual," Pál Szekeres said. The Fidesz MEP said that whether or not Hungary should be a member of the EPPO was a question of sovereignty. He stressed that no EU member state could be forced to join, and that in 2022 the head of the organisation, Laura Codruța Kövesi, herself said that Hungarian authorities responded to all requests sent to them, while there were other member states that did not. There are cases that have caused a huge uproar, and yet, there have been no results achieved on them, such as Qatargate or the money laundering charges against former commissioner Didier Reynders. "One can talk about many things, except about the fact that when it comes to an organisation that does not function perfectly, my compatriots who would like to make a proposal that is contrary to all the legislation" and is a matter of national competence.
According to Fidesz MEP András László, the two opposition parties are "on their knees, begging" for "foreign interference" into Hungarian domestic politics "from Brussels". The EU institutions did not so much as lift a finger about corruption within EU institutions, but the Hungarian authorities are able to cooperate with them in a way that allows Hungary to retain its sovereignty. Péter Magyar should come out and "admit that he wouldn't just give up a little bit of our sovereignty, but he would give up anything" to keep his immunity and political support. That is the reality, that is what this petition is about and that is why Tisza and DK are falling into each other's arms here."
For the time being, the petition has been kept open, but a written response has been requested from the European Commission on what to do with it.
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