The European Chief Prosecutor, Laura Codruța Kövesi, and the Governor of the Hellenic Independent Authority of Public Revenues (IAPR), Georgios Pitsilis, signed a working arrangement today between the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) and the IAPR, according to a press release issued by EPPO.

The EPPO and the IAPR have agreed to establish closer cooperation and communication between the two organisations, in respect of the offences that fall within the competence of both parties.

Thanks to the working arrangement, the IAPR shall inform the EPPO of all cases identified or investigated by the Greek authority that relate to the criminal offences within the mandate of the EPPO. This will strengthen the fight against organised crime connected to smuggling of goods, corruption, fraud, including cross-border VAT fraud, and any other criminal offence or illegal activity adversely affecting the European Union’s financial interests.

Given the key role of the IARP at national level, its support, in particular in cross-border VAT cases falling within the EPPO’s mandate, is of great importance.