13/02/2019 (Agence Europe) – Romanian Minister of Justice, Tudorel Toader, reportedly sent a letter to his European colleagues dissuading them from appointing the former chief prosecutor of Romania's National Anti-Corruption Directorate, Laura Codruţa Kövesi, as head of the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO), a diplomatic source confirmed to EUROPE on Wednesday 13 February. The Romanian candidate emerged as the favourite from the pre-selection carried out by the Selection Committee (see EUROPE 12187), followed by the French Jean-François Bohnert and the German Andrés Ritter. The Romanian Minister's position is well known, and he also confirmed at the informal meeting of the ‘Justice’ Council last week that he would stick to it (see EUROPE 12190), whereas the Austrian Minister had given his support to the Romanian candidate. The European Parliament and the Council will have to agree on an appointment by the end of March. (MF)