Protection of the financial interests of the European Union using criminal law

The committee adopted a report by Diemut THEATO (EPP/ED, D) on introducing protection under criminal law of the Union's financial interests. It contained two main demands: firstly it called on the Commission to submit legislative proposals for a comprehensive legal and judicial framework for the protection of the Union's financial interests; secondly it called for the IGC to include in its work programme a discussion on the establishment of a European public prosecutor's office with responsibility for all offences affecting the Union's financial interests. On the first point, the committee wanted the Commission to put forward legislation laying down the offences, penalties and guiding principles relating to the protection of the Union's financial interests. It also wanted an "independent European agency" exercising, under the institutional authority of the Commission, powers to coordinate and monitor the legality of OLAF's investigative activities. �