The Cabinet of Ministers announces an open competition for the selection of a European prosecutor of the European Public Prosecutor's Office. The competition is announced based on Article 16 of the Council Regulation (EU) 2017/1939 of 12 October 2017 implementing enhanced cooperation on the establishment of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (‘the EPPO’) (hereinafter – the Regulation) wherein it is stated each Member State shall nominate three candidates for the position of European Prosecutor. In a letter dated 6th December 2018 the European Commission requests the Member States to initiate timely candidate selection so that three candidates would be nominated by the end of March 2019.
In shall be allowed to nominate candidates for the position of European Prosecutor complying with mandatory requirements for the position of European Prosecutor set forth in Article 16(1) of the Regulation:
1) who are active members of the Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Latvia or judiciary of Latvia;
2) whose independence is beyond doubt;
3) who have at least five-year work experience in the position of a prosecutor or judge;
4) who have practical experience in the justice system of the Republic of Latvia, in investigation or criminal prosecution of financial crimes, as well as experience in international cooperation of justice authorities in criminal cases;
5) who have good command of English, German or French;
6) who are not older than 60 years and will be able to finish the term of six years in the position of European Prosecutor before they reach the month when they turn 66 years old.
The following will be seen as the advantage for the candidate:
1) experience in a management position and ability to coordinate work of other persons;
2) experience in investigation or criminal prosecution of financial and bribery crimes, including criminal offences affecting financial interests of the European Union;
3) experience in investigation or criminal prosecution of cross-border crimes;
4) ability to work in multi-cultural environment and contact with justice systems different from the justice system of the Republic of Latvia;
5) ability to work in a team, communicate and negotiate;
6) ability to formulate opinion and make independent decisions;
7) good knowledge on the European Union institutional and justice structure;
8) good command of at least two foreign languages (out of the mandatory languages of a European Prosecutor specified under Article 5).
The three candidates selected by the Selection Panel for the European Prosecutor of the European Public Prosecutor's Office will have to gain permit to access the European Union classified information according to level EU Secret.
After the Ministry of Justice submits its suggestions to the Cabinet of Ministers as to the three candidates nominated by the Selection Panel for the European Prosecutor of the European Public Prosecutor's Office and after the Cabinet of Ministers approves the candidates, the list with three candidates will be sent to the selection committee specified under Article 14 of the Regulation.
According to Article 14(3) of the Regulation, the selection panel of the candidates shall comprise twelve persons chosen from among former members of the Court of Justice and the Court of Auditors, former national members of Eurojust, members of national supreme courts, high level prosecutors and lawyers of recognised competence. One of the persons chosen shall be proposed by the European Parliament. According to Article 16(2) of the Regulation, after having received the reasoned opinion of the selection panel, the European Union Council shall select and appoint one of the candidates to be the European Prosecutor of the Member State in question.
The application document – a reasoned application in Latvian and English, German or French with information certifying experience in investigation or criminal prosecution of financial crimes, as well as experience in international cooperation of justice authorities in criminal cases, resume (CV) in Latvian and English, German or French according to Europass CV form (http://www.europass.lv/sakums), certificate issued by the Prosecutor General’s Office or the Court Administration concerning work experience and positions and other documents which the candidate sees necessary must be submitted to the Chancellery of the Ministry of Justice (36 Brivibas Boulevard, Riga, LV-1536) or sent via electronic mail to e-mail address TM.kanceleja@tm.gov.lv within 14 calendar days after publishing the announcement in official magazine “Latvian Herald”. Information line 67036970; 67036731.
Additional information:
On 13th February 2019 the Cabinet of Ministers issued order No. 52 “Concerning announcing an open competition for the selection of a European prosecutor of the European Public Prosecutor's Office”, initiating selection procedure for a European prosecutor of the European Public Prosecutor's Office and announcing an open competition for the selection of a candidate for European prosecutor of the European Public Prosecutor's Office.
The main authorities and official duties of a European Prosecutor are defined in Article 12 of the Council Regulation (EU) 2017/1939 of 12 October 2017 implementing enhanced cooperation on the establishment of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (‘the EPPO’) (hereinafter – the Regulation). In accordance with the Regulation, European Prosecutors shall supervise the investigations, prosecutions and charging for which the European Delegated Prosecutors who deal with investigations, prosecutions and charging in the case in their Member State of origin are responsible.
The European Public Prosecutor's Office is established with a purpose to protect the financial interests of the European Union. The European Public Prosecutor's Office will be responsible for investigation, criminal prosecution and charges for criminal offences endangering the EU financial interests.
At the moment, the European Public Prosecutor's Office is comprised of 22 EU Member States (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, France, Greece, Croatia, Estonia, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Finland, Spain and Germany).