A Federal European Prosecution Authority: From Vision to Reality?

The key question addressed in this chapter is the extent to which the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) is a suitable model for a future ‘federal’ system of European criminal law. The analysis approaches that question especially by studying the relationship between EPPO, national sovereignty and legitimacy. On this basis, the first section of this chapter proceeds to comprehensively analyse the scope, nature and type of enforcement powers enjoyed by the EPPO. The chapter’s second section discusses in detail the ways in which the exercise of the EPPO’s powers may constitute a threat to national sovereignty whilst the third section considers EPPO from the perspective of legitimacy, with a particular focus on judicial review of the EPPO’s activities. The final part of the chapter analyses the pros and cons of establishing the EPPO by means of enhanced cooperation.