Request for the waiver of the immunity of Theodoros Zagorakis

The European Parliament decided to waive the immunity of Theodoros ZAGORAKIS (EPP, EL).

Parliament recalled that the Deputy Public Prosecutor at the Supreme Court of Greece had requested the waiver of the immunity of Theodoros Zagorakis, Member of the European Parliament, in connection with possible legal action concerning an alleged offence. Mr Zagorakis was accused of being responsible for financial irregularities between 2007 and 2012 at the PAOK football club, of which he was president at the time.

Parliament noted that Article 9 of Protocol No 7 on the Privileges and Immunities of the European Union stated that Members of the European Parliament shall enjoy, in the territory of their own state, the immunities accorded to members of the parliament of that state.

However, the alleged offence clearly had no link with Mr Zagorakis’s post as a Member of the European Parliament, but rather was connected to his position as president of the PAOK football club.

Accordingly, there was no reason to suspect that the intention underlying the criminal proceedings was to damage the Member’s political activity (fumus persecutionis), given that the prosecution was initiated a number of years before the Member took up his post.

Consequently, Parliament decided to waive the immunity of Theodoros Zagorakis.