Kovesi on EPPO: Greece at centre of prosecutor intimidation
The head of the European Public Prosecutor's Office characterised Greece as the most flagrant case of intimidation of EPPO prosecutors. The union of supreme court and prosecution officials speaks of avoidance of investigating scandals.
Supreme Court rejected EPPO request for five-year term renewal for prosecutors
According to In.gr, the statement by the head of the European Public Prosecutor's Office Laura Kovesi — that the "most flagrant" attempt to intimidate EPPO prosecutors is found in Greece — is causing deep concern in legal and political circles in the country.
At the centre of the dispute is the decision by the Supreme Judicial Council of the Court of Cassation regarding a two-year — not five-year — renewal of the term of three Greek appointed European Prosecutors. The European Public Prosecutor's Office appealed, citing a decision of the College in Luxembourg that provided for a five-year renewal for all EPPO prosecutors.
The Administrative Plenary of the Court of Cassation rejected the appeal by a vote of 72 to 10, on the grounds that Greek legislation permits only judicial officials themselves to appeal to the Plenary on matters of official status.
The justice spokesperson for Amalia's party, Maria Lepenioti, points out that "given the supremacy of EU law in this specific case", the refusal of the five-year renewal "places obstacles in the work of the European Public Prosecutor's Office and undermines its work".
The ELAS (Union of Officials of the Court of Cassation and Prosecution) announced that Kovesi's statement "confirms the avoidance of investigating scandals that afflict our country, which is being attempted through the aforementioned decision of the Plenary of the Court of Cassation".
Source: In.gr