The Finnish Prime Minister, Anti Rinne, hoped on Wednesday 17 July, at a press conference in Strasbourg, that a solution could be found quickly on the appointment of the head of the European Public Prosecutor's Office.
France's decision to withdraw its support for the French candidate, Jean-François Bohnert, in favour of Romania's Laura Codruța Kövesi, could indeed unblock negotiations between the co-legislators, which had been at a standstill since April.
The information had been revealed the day before by the president of the Renew Europe group at the European Parliament, Romanian Dacian Cioloș (see EUROPE 12297/19), and has now been confirmed by the Elysée.
Former Dutch MEP Judith Sargentini, who was part of the Parliament’s negotiating team, welcomed France's change of position on Twitter, calling it "very adult".
However, as the candidacy is personal and not subject to government support, it will be up to Mr Bohnert to decide himself whether or not to withdraw his candidacy, a European source recalled. According to this source, the EU Council has still not received any formal notification from either Paris or the French candidate. If France withdraws its support, it is only one more vote for Ms. Kövesi, the source commented, and it does not guarantee the appointment of the Romanian candidate.
Within the EU Council, discussions are ongoing on what procedure should now be followed and the issue is being discussed between the Member States' ambassadors to the EU (Coreper), Mr Rinne said. (Original version in French by Marion Fontana and Mathieu Bion)