Key facts
- EU's top diplomat Kaja Kallas proposed giving EPPO responsibility for sanctions evasion cases.
- The aim is to target companies and individuals within the EU aiding Russia's war in Ukraine.
- EPPO currently investigates organized crime, including money laundering and corruption.
- Enforcement of EU sanctions has been hampered by varying national laws and prosecutorial approaches.
- The EU approved its 21st package of sanctions against Moscow in July.
The European Union's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, has suggested expanding the mandate of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) to include investigating and prosecuting individuals and companies within the bloc that are circumventing sanctions against Russia. Kallas, the EU's high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, floated the idea at a meeting with ambassadors from EU member countries on Wednesday, according to two diplomats familiar with the discussion. The proposal aims to strengthen the enforcement of sanctions, which has been hindered by a fragmented approach across the 27 member states, with varying national laws and prosecutorial strategies. EPPO, based in Luxembourg, is currently tasked with investigating and prosecuting serious cross-border organized crime, such as money laundering and corruption. Adding international sanctions enforcement would represent a significant expansion of its remit. The EU has implemented 21 packages of sanctions against Moscow since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, targeting sectors like oil and gas, financial services, and cryptocurrency exchanges.