Rapporteur discusses the House's objections to European Public Prosecutor's Office in Brussels

13 March 2015

On Monday 16 March, MP Ard van der Steur (VVD) will visit Brussels to explain the House of Representatives' objections 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. In 2014, Mr Van der Steur was 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.

Visit to Brussels

In Brussels, Mr van der Steur will have a discussion with Frans Timmermans, First Vice-President of the European Commission and the European Commissioner. He will also meet the permanent representative of the Netherlands in Brussels,the cabinet of the European Commissioner for Justice and members of the European Parliament who are involved in the proposal on the establishment of the EPPO.

Position paper

In 2014, the standing committee on Security and Justice drew up its position paper (pdf). The position paper sums up the objections of the House of Representatives 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.