EU JHA Council agrees to set up European Public Prosecutor's Office

18 States - Spain, France, Germany, Belgium, Slovakia, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Luxembourg, Portugal, Lithuania, Cyprus, Greece, Finland, Bulgaria, Romania, Latvia and Estonia - which will very soon be joined by Austria and Italy, declared their support for the proposed Regulation to set up the European Public Prosecutor's Office on Thursday, 8 June.

The lack of unanimity of the 28 Member States at the Justice and Home Affairs Council of the EU held on 28 March prompted the holding of a meeting fostered by the Minister for Justice, Rafael Catalá, to adopt the enhanced cooperation procedure by those countries interested in pushing through this initiative and finalise the work prior to the approval of the Regulation on Thursday.

The Ministry of Justice described the agreement reached as a success and trusts that those EU Member States that have still not decided to sign up will do so. The ministry considers that the text approved is suitable and is similar to the commitment the Government of Spain seeks to make to an institution that will be called on to be a basic pillar of the legal network of the European Union.

The approved text is due to be submitted to a vote by the European Parliament in the coming months, thereby opening up a term of three years for the establishment of the European Public Prosecutor's Office, which will have its headquarters in Luxembourg.