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Appointment of the European Chief Prosecutor

TA-10-2026-0062 · P10_TA(2026)0062 · PE782.259

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✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 4 Nov 2026

Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.

Parliament approves the appointment of Andrés Ritter as European Chief Prosecutor of the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO). The annexed decision appoints him as a temporary agent at grade AD 15 for a non-renewable period of seven years from 1 November 2026. The appointment follows a shortlist of four candidates drawn up by the selection panel and a common accord between Parliament and the Council. The decision enters into force on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Key points

  1. Parliament approves Andrés Ritter as European Chief Prosecutor of the EPPO.
  2. The European Chief Prosecutor heads the EPPO, organises its work, directs its activities and takes decisions under Regulation (EU) 2017/1939 and the EPPO's internal rules of procedure.
  3. The first European Chief Prosecutor, Laura Codruța Kövesi, was appointed by Decision (EU) 2019/1798 and her mandate expires on 31 October 2026.
  4. A new European Chief Prosecutor is therefore appointed by common accord of Parliament and the Council.
  5. An open call for candidates at grade AD 15 was published in the Official Journal on 28 April 2025.
  6. The selection panel drew up a shortlist of four candidates, ranked them by qualifications and experience, and submitted it with reasons, curricula vitae and motivation letters; the ranking is not binding on Parliament and the Council.
  7. On 3 December 2025 Parliament's Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee, after a public hearing of the four candidates and the opinion of the Budgetary Control Committee, voted in support of Andrés Ritter as Parliament's preferred candidate.
  8. On 3 December 2025 the Council also established its position in support of Andrés Ritter.
  9. The appointment is for a non-renewable term of seven years from 1 November 2026.
  10. Both institutions assessed the candidates' merits, taking into account the selection panel's statement of reasons, curricula vitae and motivation letters.
  11. Andrés Ritter is appointed as a temporary agent at grade AD 15 for a non-renewable period of seven years from 1 November 2026.
  12. The decision enters into force on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Who is affected

  • Andrés Ritter: appointed European Chief Prosecutor of the EPPO for a non-renewable seven-year term from 1 November 2026.
  • The European Public Prosecutor's Office: gets a new head who organises its work and directs its activities.
  • The European Parliament and the Council: appoint the European Chief Prosecutor by common accord.

Figures and deadlines

  • Seven years: length of the non-renewable term from 1 November 2026.
  • 1 November 2026: start of the new European Chief Prosecutor's term.
  • 31 October 2026: expiry of the mandate of the first European Chief Prosecutor.
  • Four candidates: number on the selection panel's shortlist.
  • 28 April 2025: date the open call for candidates was published in the Official Journal.
  • 8 October 2025: date the selection panel submitted the shortlist.
  • 3 December 2025: date of the committee vote and of the Council position in support of Andrés Ritter.
  • Grade AD 15: grade of the post of European Chief Prosecutor.

Legal basis: Article 86 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union; Article 14 of Council Regulation (EU) 2017/1939.