MEPs want Andrés Ritter to become the next European Chief Prosecutor, the head of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO). The European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) voted by secret ballot on the order of preference for the appointment of the European Chief Prosecutor. Andrés Ritter received 46 votes, well ahead of Stefano Castellani (11 votes), Emilio Jesús Sánchez Ulled (7 votes) and Ingrid Maschl-Clausen (4 votes).
According to information provided to us following the meeting of the Permanent Representatives of the Member States to the EU (Coreper II), the Member States share this view.
Before the vote, the four shortlisted candidates answered questions from MEPs and took part in a public hearing.
MEPs heard from four experienced figures already involved in the fight against European financial crime. All the candidates agreed that in order to respond to the increase in transnational fraud, EPPO would need to be better connected, better equipped and work closely with Europol, Eurojust and OLAF.
Andrés Ritter, currently European Public Prosecutor and Deputy to the European Chief Prosecutor, Laura Kövesi, presented EPPO as a trusted partner for national authorities and European agencies.
With over three decades’ experience as a magistrate, including ten years as head of the public prosecutor’s office in Rostock (Germany) specialising in economic crime, cybercrime and state security, Andrés Ritter set out a pragmatic roadmap.
In particular, he advocated a “culture of continuous improvement and technological adaptation”, with investment in data analysis capacities, the use of artificial intelligence and the interconnection of information databases, in cooperation with Europol, OLAF and the tax and customs authorities of the Member States.
Parliament is ready to start negotiations with the EU Council to reach an appointment. The mandate of the future Chief European Public Prosecutor will be seven years, non-renewable, starting in autumn 2026, when Laura Kövesi leaves office.
To see the candidates’ answers to the written questions: https://aeur.eu/f/jtl (Andrés Ritter), https://aeur.eu/f/jtm (Emilio Jesús Sánchez Ulled), https://aeur.eu/f/jtn (Ingrid Maschl-Clausen), https://aeur.eu/f/jto (Stefano Castellani) (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)