The head of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, Laura Codruca Kovesi, who in 2022 oversaw an investigation into fraud worth about 14 billion euros, now intends to prosecute those who circumvent the sanctions imposed on Russia, AFP reported on Thursday, citing Agerpres.

He wants to target individuals, companies or criminal organizations that evade economic sanctions imposed by the EU on Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine, thus fueling Moscow’s war machine.

“The European Commission asked us if we could handle it. Our answer was: “Yes, we can do it. We are ready,” Kovesi assured in an interview with AFP held at the headquarters of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office in Luxembourg.

“We have specialized prosecutor’s offices. We have representations in 22 member states (…) We are the only available tool at the moment at the European level to fight this form of crime,” she said.

However, it is up to the leaders of the member states to make a decision to formally entrust the European Prosecutor’s Office with this new mission, and not all of them are ardent supporters of this, AFP comments.

In Romania, Covesi was the youngest general prosecutor and the first woman in this position, before heading the National Anti-corruption Directorate (DNA), reports France press.

Her persistence in investigating wrongdoing by the political class made her antagonized by the Romanian government, and she was fired shortly before she was appointed head of the new European prosecutor’s office, AFP added.

Eastern European countries are no more corrupt than others

Since then, his teams have achieved major successes, such as Operation Admiral, which brought down an EU-wide network responsible for €2.2 billion in cross-border VAT fraud – starting with a request for help from Portuguese tax authorities regarding a small company selling mobile phones and other electronic devices.

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) has so far failed to unite all EU member states: five of them (Denmark, Sweden, Hungary, Poland and Ireland) refuse to participate and appoint special prosecutors.

“We would like to work with our colleagues from five states within the framework of the EPPO, but this is a political decision,” Kovesi commented.

“I hope that when they see our results, when they see the advantages that the EPPO offers, the speed, the efficiency of our investigations, they might be convinced that the only solution is to join us,” added the chief prosecutor.

Kovesi rejected the idea that Eastern European countries are more corrupt than others, pointing to ongoing investigations in Germany and Italy into widespread VAT fraud.

She also reported that she traveled to Kyiv with her teams, which are ready to help Ukraine carry out the anti-corruption reforms necessary for joining the EU.

The chief prosecutor also explains that, including in EU countries, the fight against tax fraud faces anti-Brussels hostility.

“I hear some member states saying that if you steal national money it’s a problem, but if you steal EU money it’s not a problem anymore,” she said.

“This is a wrong way of thinking. After all, your money, our money, is intended for all European citizens. And they must be protected for all European citizens,” Kovesi said.

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