Belgian presidency in push for EU prosecutor’s office

On 21-22 September 2010, Eurojust, in co-operation with the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, held a strategic seminar, 'Eurojust and the Lisbon Treaty: towards more effective action'.

The goals of the seminar were to reflect on the development of Eurojust in light of the Lisbon Treaty and in particular the possibility provided for in Article 85 on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) to adopt a new regulation for Eurojust, and the possible establishment of a European Public Prosecutor's Office from Eurojust under Article 86 TFEU.

EUObserver reported after the seminar that the Belgian EU Presidency was stepping up plans to establish an EU-wide public prosecutor in charge of protecting the bloc's financial interests and unifying procedures for gathering criminal evidence, September 2010, despite reluctance from some EU Member States, notably the United States.

Website: Eurojust http://eurojust.europa.eu/

Eurojust: Press Release, 8.9.10: Strategic Seminar - Establishment of the European Public Prosecutor's Office from Eurojust? http://www.eurojust.europa.eu/press/PressReleases/Pages/2010/2010-09-08b.aspx

ESO: Background information: The Lisbon Treaty's impact on the Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) Council: More co-decision and new working structures (Background), December 2009 http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-the-lisbon-treatys-impact-on-the-justice-and-home-affairs-jha-council-more-co-decision-and-new-working-structures-background-december-2009/

Wikipedia: European Public Prosecutor http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Public_Prosecutor

Council of the European Union: Spain: EU Presidency: The European Public Prosecutor's Office in the European judicial area, April 2010 http://register.consilium.europa.eu/pdf/en/10/st08/st08614.en10.pdf

---