05/07/2019 (Agence Europe) – On Saturday 6 July, the Directive on the fight against fraud to the Union’s financial interests by means of criminal law (PFI Directive), which aims to improve the prosecution and punishment of offences harmful to EU finances and facilitate the recovery of misused EU funds, is due to enter into force (see EUROPE 11774/24). The offences covered include fraud and other related crimes, such as corruption, embezzlement and money laundering. The PFI Directive goes hand in hand with the creation of the European Public Prosecutor's Office, which should be operational in 2020 (see EUROPE 12232/11). “Together with the European Public Prosecutor's Office, the new rules will better protect the EU budget from fraud. I count on Member States to fully and swiftly transpose these new rules”, said the European Commissioner for Justice, Věra Jourová. (MF)