“Prevention ineffective. Detection non-existent. Reporting obstructed. Investigation superficial at best. It’s time to clean out these Augeas stables.” The European Chief Public Prosecutor Laura Kovesi was very clear and critical about the Greek government regarding her investigation: the law on ministerial responsibility, Article 86 of the Constitution, has hindered the investigation of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) into the OPEKEPE funds fraud and the Tempi train crash.
“Corruption is not confined to Greece but is found everywhere, as there is no country ‘clean of corruption,” Laura Kovesi said, among others, a phrase that was the lead in every state and government-affiliated media report.
At a press conference, Laura Kovesi appeared distant but also very critical of the government during an hour-long press conference, where she was “hammered” with journalists’ questions regarding cases and scandals that are raging in our country and that the European Public Prosecutor’s Office has the responsibility to investigate.
Kovesi focused on the issue of Article 86 of the Constitution, that is, the law on ministerial liability.
“Parliament can amend Article 86. There is a political will to do this,” she noted, sending a clear message about the need for reforms.
Article 86 an obstacle for Tempi and OPEKEPE
Responding to a question about her meeting with Justice Minister Giorgos Floridis, the European Prosecutor directly referred to Article 86 of the Constitution. “We have two cases, OPEKEPE and Tempi, where Article 86 prevented our investigation.”
Kovesi’s investigations are in connection with the OPEKEPE European Union agricultural funds scandal, the contract 717 about upgrading the rail network safety and the Tempi rail crash, reports of potential misuse of funds for Greek recycling units, on which EPPO has begun a preliminary investigation.
She appeared confident that, with meetings taking place at this level, what was agreed will be implemented.
In her opening statement, Kövesi welcomed the fact that there now seems to be enough political will to start the process of changing the laws on ministerial responsibility, namely article 86, adding: the sooner the better. She was asked several questions about article 86, noting that it comes into conflict with European legislation, while pointing out that this article has blocked the cases relating to OPEKEPE and contract 717 for the trains.
“The only way for this to change is to change the Constitution. In my meeting yesterday with the justice minister, he indicated a willingness to proceed with making this change. Change the constitution and this will not happen again,” she said.
Replying to questions about the OPEKEPE investigation, Kovesi pointed out some people had been stealing money for many consecutive years. In her opening statement, she described OPEKEPE as the “acronym for corruption, nepotism and clientelism” and said it was “time to clean the Augean Stables.
She added that she received a moving letter from a woman farmer, who told her she could not access the funding she was entitled to “because she was not prepared to pay a bribe and participate in this corrupt system”.
Tempi train crash
The Chief Prosecutor also answered questions regarding the Tempi rail accident and contract 717. Asked about the reports by some parties that there may have been illegal cargo being transported on the train, she said the information to open a real investigation into illegal smuggling or other financial crimes in EPPO’s jurisdiction was lacking.
Asked whether she had received threats relating to her work, she replied: “I have received many threats but I don’t talk about these in public”.
She also urged people to report suspected financial crimes directly to the EPPO, noting that all reports are registered and examined.
Laura Kovesi had meeting with the Finance Minister, the Justice Minister
and the Minister of Citizens’ protection, as well as with the Governor of the Independent Authority for Public Revenue, the Head of the Hellenic Police and the General Prosecutor of the Supreme Court.
“We have agreed on a plan. Now we have to make it real. For me, the most important thing is that we reached a common understanding on what is at stake,” Kovesi underlined.
Other excerpts from Kovesi’s press conference
Concretely, together with the Greek authorities, we are investigating systematic customs goods misdeclaration and smuggling. We are dismantling a dangerous criminal organisation that has caused at least 800 million euros of damage to the EU and national budgets.
Operation “Calypso” is a spectacular success, but now we have turn it into systematic work. This is the reason of my visit to Greece.
By reinforcing the EPPO office in Athens, Greek authorities contribute to protecting the EU budget and the EU citizens everywhere, not only in Greece. My aim is to achieve the same result everywhere: in Constanta, Gdansk, Hamburg, Rotterdam, Antwerp, Lisbon, Valencia, Marseille, Genoa, everywhere…
We have discovered a new continent of crime. Organised crime is growing stronger by defrauding the EU and national budgets. They are getting so much richer! So powerful! It is unacceptable. VAT and customs fraud have become the most attractive criminal activities in the EU. You think only drug trafficking is violent? Not anymore. We have wiretaps of very nasty people planning murders for VAT and customs fraud. Organised crime groups have brought VAT and customs fraud to an industrial level. I am not talking only about our “domestic” criminal groups. Here, we are talking mainly about criminal organisations from third countries. In particular the Chinese.
We have to fight back. As Europeans. We are here to restore control, to regain authority, to ensure a fair order of things. In Europe, the law is equal for everyone!
The law is for everyone in the EU?
EXCEPT for honest citizens, voters, election officials, the Tempi parents etc etc!