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European prosecutor Laura Koveši says in an interview with H1 that the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, which will start work soon, will investigate financial fraud, especially when, as she says, it involves EU money. He stressed that the murders of journalists Daphne Galicia and Jan Kucijak are also under the jurisdiction of that prosecutor’s office and that they will be dealt with.
N1: Good afternoon and thank you for speaking on behalf of N1. The European Public Prosecutor’s Office will start work soon, on January 1, to be exact. His job description says that he is investigating criminal activities that undermine the European budget and financial interests. What does that really mean?
Koveši: Our job is to investigate all crimes related to fraud, especially financial fraud, and especially when it comes to EU money. This means that we will investigate financial fraud against the EU budget in which the damage exceeds 10,000 euros. I would highlight as an example of an estimate that the fiscal damage was greater than 10 million euros. Basically, it’s about financial fraud, corruption, white collar crime.
N1: Your expectations, considering your career so far, and the fact that the institution is just establishing itself, are enormous. Does that worry or scare you in any way?
Koveši: My job as the European Attorney General is to take all the administrative and organizational measures that are necessary for the Office to start working and for the Office to function. Of course, it is a great responsibility, but also a great challenge, because we have to find a common response for 22 judicial systems in Europe. But I am not alone in that business. I have the help of other European prosecutors, one from each participating country, and we will also have the help of elected European prosecutors. These prosecutors will conduct investigations in their states. Together we will form a strong team and I think we will do our job well.
N1: Given your position, you work very closely with the College of Prosecutors, you are practically above them. Given that some of them come from countries where the prosecution is under the influence of politics, such as Poland, Hungary or Romania, where you come from, how can you be sure that they will really be independent?
Kovesi: Just a small correction, Hungary and Poland are not yet part of the EPPO, but Romania is. But the answer I can give is in accordance with the Rules of the Office, according to which it is independent. The delegated prosecutors and elected prosecutors are also independent. Therefore, I believe that there is no need to worry about cooperation between member states. We will also cooperate with all national authorities for which it is necessary to participate in our work. But it is important to remember that both prosecutors and the EPPO are independent in their work.
N1: I know that you cannot talk about specific cases, especially at this stage in which the official work has not started, but I have to ask you about two cases, the murders of journalists Daphne Galicia and Jan Kuciak. Their families have written to him in the hope that this type of crime could be under their jurisdiction. Is that correct?
Koveshi: Of course. That type of crime is under our jurisdiction. I would add that crimes committed after 2017 are under our jurisdiction. Furthermore, Mrs. Galicia and Mr. Kucijak have written a lot about this type of case that we deal with, about the connections between politicians, businessmen and public servants who commit certain types of fraud. They paid the highest price for their work and I hope that in their case the EPPO will do a very good job. We will effectively investigate all these crimes and in doing so we will honor them for their contribution to the detection of these crimes.
N1: Let’s go back to your career. You come from Romania, in the region you have been called a kind of “judicial hero” given the intransigent fight against corruption in that country. Not only the region, but also the EU praised it as a good example of fighting corruption at the time, but it has encountered numerous obstacles, political pressures and the like. What was it like, how did you manage to get results in spite of everything?
Koveši: First of all, the most important thing for me was that we were independent in our work. This is a basic premise that must be met if one is to attempt to combat high-level corruption and serious crime. Second, as a prosecutor, you cannot be a favorite all the time. That should be clear. And you have to be aware of that. Third, when you’re investigating that kind of crime, you can’t afford that kind of challenge, let’s call it that. I consider it a good training for the work I am doing now and for the future.
N1: The price you paid is enormous, you and your family have suffered a lot. It was worth it?
Koveshi: Of course it was worth it. Because the results that we achieved, my colleagues from Romania and I, were very important. Not just for us as prosecutors, but for society as a whole.
N1: And what message does your experience send? So a brave and uncompromising fight leads to results, but is the price too high? Is it motivating or demotivating?
Koveshi: I am the prosecutor. I have trouble giving advice. But from my experience, I can say that it is very important that prosecutors and judges have good laws. If you don’t have enough tools to fight crime, you won’t even be able to achieve results. Based on my previous experience, I can say that the establishment of Specialized Offices within the prosecutor’s offices is a good idea, because that way you can focus on a certain type of crime, for example, if you have a large problem of corruption or organized crime. . Finally, you need brave and professional prosecutors, very active and dedicated to their work.
N1: Many of your colleagues, especially in our Western Balkans region, are not like that, they do not have that dose of courage and independence to face the pressures. Why is this so?
Koveshi: I’m not sure that’s the case. I’m sure there are very good prosecutors in those countries. I don’t know if they are independent or not, or if they are allowed to do their job or not. I can’t comment because I don’t know. But I am sure that there are many good prosecutors because during my previous professional activities I met many prosecutors and judges from those countries and I saw that they are professionals.
N1: Did you recently meet Zagorka Dolovac from Serbia? What were the topics of those conversations?
Koveši: If you ask me about the chief prosecutor of Serbia, it wasn’t exactly a meeting between the two of us. We met at a seminar organized by the European Investment Bank on the occasion of the International Anti-Corruption Day. We talked for a few minutes. And we talked about the challenges facing prosecutors. That was the main objective of that meeting.
N1: The prosecutor’s office that he heads will begin work on January 1 When do you expect it to be fully operational?
Kovesi: The first European delegated prosecutors, appointed by Germany and Slovakia, will begin their activities on January 15. So that early next year we are ready to go to work. But the answer depends a lot on all member states, because they should propose the appointment of European delegated prosecutors. And we are still waiting for the member states to send their proposals.
N1: And when could you practically start working?
Koveshi: I hope early 2021.
N1: Thanks for talking to N1.
Koveshi: You’re welcome. Thanks to you too.
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