Second 'yellow card' for European Commission over European Public Prosecutor Office

National governments have shown the European Commission a 'yellow card' and ‘sent off’ plans for a European Public Prosecutor Office (EPPO).

This is the second yellow card for the European Commission since the introduction of the Lisbon Treaty in 2009 and the second time national parliaments have invoked the provision which allows member states to object EU proposals on the principle of subsidiarity if one third or more members agree.

Conservative Legal Affairs spokesperson, Sajjad Karim (pictured) welcomed the current state of play. He said: “The European Commission has scored an own goal by proposing the EPPO at a time when citizens and governments are looking for less EU red tape and regulation.

“The yellow card procedure is being used to keep EU proposals in check and ensure that the EU only legislates on issues which are useful.”

The European Commission planned for the EPPO to investigate and prosecute those who are suspected of committing fraud against the EU budget, hence taking power away from national authorities to do this.

Although eleven member states raised the yellow card, the European Commission can in theory choose to ignore the parliaments. However the last time a yellow card was issued, in the case of proposed legislation limiting workers’ right to strike, the EU proposal was thrown off the field.

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