The European Public Prosecutor’s office: competence, tasks and prospects of cooperation with the state authorities of Ukraine

This article analyses the functioning of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) as an independent EU body responsible for investigating, prosecuting and bringing to justice those who have committed criminal offences affecting the financial interests of the European Union - a topical issue for both EU institutions and Member States, including Ukraine as a candidate country. The importance of expanding the powers of the EPPO is mentioned in the Political Guidelines for the next European Commission 2024−2029 «Europe’s Choice». It points to the need to discuss areas where it is seen necessary to increase the powers of this body to combat cross-border serious crime, including corruption, which affects EU funds and which Member States cannot tackle on their own at the national level. In terms of the adaptation of Ukrainian legislation to EU law, accession negotiations and Ukraine’s gradual integration into the EU’s area of freedom, security and justice. The cooperation and interaction of the Ukrainian state authorities with the EPPO plays a significant role. The European Union’s cooperation in the area of freedom, security and justice (hereinafter referred to as the AFSJ) takes place both at the level of the EU and its Member States and is regulated under the Association Agreement between a third country and the EU and its Member States (for the Western Balkan countries - the Stabilisation and Association Agreement). Thus, the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement contains Chapter 3 «Justice, Freedom and Security». The research article analyses the competence of the EPPO, the mandate of the EPPO and the European Anti-Fraud Office was clarified. The article examines the legal framework (Council Regulation (EU) 2017/1939 (the «EPPO Regulation») and Directive (EU) 2017/1371 (the «PIF Directive»), as well as the procedure and status of accession of EU Member States to the EPPO, including the organisation of the body’s work, which is organised at two levels: centralised and decentralised. The authors conclude that Ukraine should join the EPPO after becoming a full member of the EU.