Rapporteur discusses the House's objections to A European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) in Paris

While in The Hague the House of Representatives held its annual general political debate on Wednesday 17 September, MP Ard van der Steur (VVD) was in Paris, in the French National Assembly, where he informed a number of European colleagues of the objections the House of Representatives has to the establishment of a European Public Prosecutor's Office.

MP Ard van der Steur in Paris

Criminal prosecution: Member States' business

During the morning session Mr Van der Steur explained the objections the House has to the establishment of a European Public Prosecutor's Office. Although the House also wants to take rigorous action against fraud with EU money, it considers criminal prosecution to be a competence of Member States. Mr Van der Steur has been appointed rapporteur on this dossier by the standing committee on Security and Justice. He will try to win fellow parliamentarians from other EU Member States to the Dutch position.

Position paper

In Paris Mr Van der Steur gave an explanation of the position paper drawn up by the standing committee on Security and Justice. The position paper sums up the objections the House of Representatives has to the establishment of a European Public Prosecutor's Office, especially in the field of subsidiarity (higher authorities should refrain from making rules if lower authorities are capable of doing so) and proportionality.

Alternative

The position paper also contains an alternative proposal for an EPPO. According to the committee this proposal does not infringe the Member States' sovereignty, but action can be taken at European level as an ultimum remedium. A majority of the House supports this compromise proposal. Rapporteur Van der Steur holds consultations with other national parliaments, ambassadors from EU Member States in The Hague and justice attachés who negotiate in Brussels. The Senate partly joins these activities.

Video recording

On the website of the French AssemblĂ©e Nationale you can watch the meeting of Wednesday 17 September (in French).