26/02/2024 (Agence Europe) – The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) announced, on Friday 23 February, an urgent request to the European Parliament, the EU Council and the European Commission for a budget increase for 2024. This request, made by the College of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, aims to anticipate the imminent accession of new Member States, in particular Poland (see EUROPE 13315/7) and potentially Sweden (see EUROPE 13337/34), as well as the acceleration of the disbursement of Next Generation EU funds. European Chief Prosecutor Laura Kövesi, who heads the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, stressed in a press release the importance of strengthening the staff and resources of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, set up in 2021 (see EUROPE 12729/11) to combat offences against the EU’s financial interests, in order to ensure the success of its enlargement. The budget requested is €79.7 million, an increase of €7.8 million. (NP)