Hungary coordinates with EPPO on membership and legislative requirements

European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) Chief Laura Codruța Kövesi met with Hungarian government officials in Budapest to discuss the technical and legislative requirements for Hungary joining the EPPO.

The EPPO is an independent EU body responsible for investigating and prosecuting crimes affecting the Union’s financial interests, such as budgetary fraud, corruption, money laundering, and cross-border tax fraud. Under the proposed framework, delegated prosecutors in Hungary would operate under the supervision of the EPPO headquarters in Luxembourg and would not be subject to instructions from national authorities.

The accession process will involve a two-phase legislative overhaul. The first phase, expected to reach Parliament by 2026, focuses on establishing the selection process for the European Chief Prosecutor and delegated prosecutors through amendments to three existing laws. The second phase, potentially in 2027, will address criminal procedure, data protection, and cooperation rules.

While the EPPO will handle crimes against EU funds, the Hungarian Office of the Prosecutor General and the National Asset Recovery and Protection Office will retain jurisdiction over other criminal matters, with legal liability remaining under the Hungarian judicial system.