Stopping EU budget fraud demands joint European enforcement

Laura Kövesi will step down as head of the Luxembourg-based European Public Prosecutor's Office this weekend, marking the body's first leadership change since its launch. The transition comes as investigators tackle ever-increasing financial fraud directed against the European Union budget.

Sceptics of centralized EU institutions often argue that law enforcement should remain entirely within national hands. Local prosecutors understand their domestic legal systems best and handle local cases efficiently. Yet financial criminals operating across multiple member states exploit precisely these national borders, shifting illicit funds faster than uncoordinated national authorities can track them.

Protecting shared money requires a shared defence. When public funds are pooled at the European level, their protection cannot stop at individual national frontiers. As the office prepares for new leadership, member states must ensure the cross-border prosecutor has the resources and backing needed to defend European taxpayer funds effectively.