EU Council confirms Andrés Ritter as new head of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office

Brussels – Andrés Ritter has been nominated as the next head of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), succeeding Laura Kovesi, whose term expires on 30 October this year. Following the European Parliament’s appointment at the end of February, the EU Council has also given its green light to the German magistrate, who has been Vice-President of the EPPO since November 2020. After the Council’s vote in favor of Ritter, the EPPO’s leadership is a formality. His role, which will begin on 1 November, will last for seven years and is not renewable.

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office is an independent EU body responsible for investigating, prosecuting, and bringing to justice crimes affecting the financial interests of the Union, such as corruption, misuse of European funds, and cross-border VAT fraud exceeding 10 million euros. The European Chief Prosecutor heads the EPPO, organises its work, and represents the Office in contacts with EU institutions, Member States, and third countries.