{
  "id": 16837721,
  "title": "EU Public Prosecutor’s Office will be ‘killed softly for doing its job’ says outgoing chief",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/28/eu-public-prosecutors-office-will-be-killed-softly-for-doing-its-job",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-28T03:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Politico EU",
    "slug": "politico-eu",
    "url": "https://www.politico.eu/article/eppo-european-public-prosecutors-office-laura-codruta-kovesi-interview/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) chief Laura Codruța Kövesi has warned that her office may be \"killed softly\" while still doing its job due to budgetary constraints and bureaucratic obstacles. In her final interview before stepping down, Kövesi expressed concerns over the EPPO's independence and credibility, citing instances of underfunding and delays in the revision of EPPO regulations.\n\nKövesi acknowledged that her office had achieved much during her tenure, including building an efficient, strong and independent institution that citizens trust. However, she expressed worries about the future, stating that the EPPO is \"going to be killed softly because it's doing its job.\" She attributed this potential downfall to three main factors: underfunding, delays in regulatory revisions, and a lack of support from EU institutions.\n\nOne of the most alarming attempts to undermine the EPPO's independence occurred in Greece, where the renewal of European delegated prosecutors faced obstacles. In Poland, the EPPO's expected 24 European delegated prosecutors were only able to secure 15, raising questions about their credibility. In Hungary, the EU Commission proposed only half of the budget needed for the EPPO to effectively carry out its duties.\n\nDespite the challenges, Kövesi emphasized that the EPPO has been successful in increasing detection rates of criminal activities, successful prosecutions, and protecting the EU budget. She urged the incoming chief prosecutor to continue the work of maintaining the EPPO's independence and credibility, as well as addressing the current funding and regulatory issues.",
  "summary": "In an exclusive interview with POLITICO to mark the end of her seven year tenure, Laura Codruța Kövesi spoke frankly about the problems facing the EPPO.",
  "key_points": [
    "EU Public Prosecutor's Office chief warns of \"soft killing\" due to budget cuts and bureaucracy",
    "Three main factors undermining EPPO: underfunding, regulatory delays, lack of EU support",
    "EPPO achieved success in detecting crimes, successful prosecutions, protecting EU budget"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Budgetary restrictions and bureaucratic delays across member states threaten to erode the independence of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office by undermining its capacity to protect the union's financial interests.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}