In an extensive statement, her MEP N.D., Maria Spiraki nominated for review by the European Parliament, explaining, among other things, that a request to lift her immunity is pending, while emphasizing that “I have never been accused of receiving money, part of the fees of my assistants or illegally deducting funds. I also reiterate that I have no financial disagreement with Parliament regarding the budget that concerns me, and that I have taken responsibility for the payment of the allowance to a foreigner to my colleague, which I demand from him.

RS. Spirakis in another part of her statement, she mentions that the case in which she is being tested has nothing to do with other cases in which investigations are underway for other Greek MEPs.

Maria Spiraka’s statement in detail

I would like to inform all interested parties of the developments that have taken place since December 15, 2022, when the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) announced its request to the European Parliament to waive my immunity, until today, that:

A. I carry out, as I must and without a single day of absence, my parliamentary duties in the European Parliament in Brussels and Strasbourg.

In particular, the European Parliament appointed me on 03/02/2023 to the position of lead speaker on the CLP Regulation (Classification, Labeling and Packaging of Substances and Mixtures), one of the two regulations that horizontally and necessarily regulate all Member States and all products containing chemical substances. Based on this capacity, I represented the European Parliament on an official mission to the European Chemicals Agency in Helsinki from 2 to 4 April 2023.

Also just yesterday, on April 26, we completed the passage of the Regulations in the competent committees (ENVI/ITRE) on the reduction of methane in the energy sector, in the development of which I participate as a shadow speaker of the EPP.

On 03/28/2023, we voted in the Industry and Energy Committee on my proposal for an ESPR Regulation (Eco-Design for Sustainable Products, Sustainable Products Regulation).

Also after December 15, 2022, I made 23 speeches at the plenary meetings of the European Parliament in Strasbourg and Brussels and in committees on issues of my competence and issues relating to our national interests. In the same period, always after December 15, 2022, I submitted 5 parliamentary questions and received 5 replies from the commissioners to the previous questions that I published.

In the context of the public dialogue held in the European Union, I participated as a speaker on the aforementioned legislation, as well as co-chair of the Intergroup of the European Parliament on “Climate Change, Biodiversity and Sustainable Development” and Director of the European Energy Forum in 11 events with an equal number of speeches / speeches.

Among them was my keynote address at the World Methane Mitigation Conference in Amsterdam on March 30, 2023.

Relevant activities are posted on my website, and legislative activities on its official page. European Parliament.

B. The request to waive my immunity is pending in the European Parliament and I hope that the process will continue soon and I will be able to stand trial and prove my innocence.

C. I must reiterate that after the leak of classified documents to the international press, it has been confirmed that I have never been accused of receiving money, part of my assistants’ fees, or misappropriation of funds.

D. I also reiterate that I have no financial disagreement with Parliament regarding the budget that concerns me, and that I have taken responsibility for the payment of the foreigner’s allowance to my partner, which I claim from him.

E. It is clear that the case in which I am being investigated has nothing to do with other cases in which other Greek MEPs are being investigated. In addition, the request to remove my immunity for a minute did not interrupt my parliamentary duties and did not shake the confidence in me on the part of the European Parliament.

F. I urge journalists and those who get the floor publicly to consider the above facts, which are now fully confirmed, not to associate me with cases in which I have nothing to do, and to resist misinformation.

Finally, I declare that I reserve the right to exercise all my legal rights before the competent authorities of Greece and Europe after the clarification of the outstanding issue concerning me.