“The European Public Prosecutor’s Office is here to stay, despite intimidation efforts,” the Laura Kovesi On Thursday morning, during a press conference on issues related to European Public Prosecutor’s Offices in our country.

The European Prosecutor, reportedly reported In OPECEPE issues, of Tempi and The business “Calypso” and the port of Piraeus, while he was particularly stood in Article 86 of the Constitution on the criminal prosecution of members of the government.

Ms Kovesi referred to the work of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office in our country, the meetings he had yesterday with ministers and agents of justice, and answered a number of questions.

He underlined the independent character of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, described its operation at a pan -European level.

“Warn Anyone who intends to intervene in our work, to think about it again, ” He stressed. “I am very proud of the office work in Greece.”

He also referred to the collaboration with the Greek prosecutors: “We also have Greek colleagues who are very good – the best of them came to our team.”

“We are here to work with European authorities,” he said.

OPECEPE

Speaking about the OPECEPE case, the prosecutor said that For many years some stole European moneywho “had to help honest farmers to cultivate this wonderful country, not for villas and expensive cars.”

“OPEKEPE became the acronym of the neo -dotism of the dispute and the ineffective state. It’s time to clean Aegia’s stables, “he said.

He also stressed that the case is not an isolated phenomenon. “It’s not the only one. There are several cases. There is corruption with agricultural subsidies in other Member States. That is why we have the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, “he noted, giving an example:” All ports in Europe are exposed – to my knowledge, cocaine does not come from heaven, enters the ports. ”

Ms Kovesi went even further, saying that “we have an invasion of criminal organizations from China” and warned that immediate and coordinated actions were needed: “We must do something not only in Piraeus but in all ports.”

For Tempi and for the Law on Ministers’ Responsibility

Speaking about the Tempe case, Mrs Kovesi said: ‘There have been many interventions, I will not specify, you are aware of the members of the government found in the case file. Let’s talk about Tempi. I want to express the deep condolences. I am not happy about the law on ministerial responsibility (Article 86). As I said, it is to ensure that there is a fair and effective investigation into a part of the research, but there have been obstacles. This tragedy could have been avoided…. The only way to close this wound is The performance of justice but because of Article 86 this did not happen. “

Asked about her meeting with Justice Minister George Floridis, European prosecutor Laura Kovesi referred directly to Article 86 of the Constitution. “We have two cases, OPECEPE and Tempi, where Article 86 prevented our research. The only way is to change it, “he said, adding:” From yesterday’s meeting I realized that the Greek government supports this initiative, because otherwise in future research we will have the same effect. We cannot violate the Greek Constitution. “

“The bad news is that as in the Tempi case, the research did not get to where it could because of the Constitution. The good news that parliament can amend Article 86 of the Constitution and I understand that there is a will to proceed with this process, ”he said.

“It’s not a reality show, don’t put the witnesses talk on television to hear those guilty of those who should not know! The Office of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office is not a foreign body. We are here to stay in despite intimidation efforts. I warn everyone, whoever is intended to intervene in our work. “

The European Prosecutor said there were many interventions in both the Tempe case and the OPEKEPE.

Also, in a question about the multi -day accident in Tempe and what has been heard about the load she had on her, Ms Kovesi appeared restrained.

“I don’t want to say much, because there were rumors of the possibility of smuggling. But at the moment we do not have information that allows us to open research, “he said, clarifying that” there are only pieces of information that are not sufficient to move into a smuggling case. “

Corruption is not only Greek

With sharp references to corruption and its consequences, the European Prosecutor stressed that Treatment of the phenomenon is not the sole responsibility of the prosecutorN.

“When we talk about corruption, it is not just the duty of the prosecutors to solve it. Will not disappear without prevention. It affects the lives of all of us, because there is a direct relationship between corruption and poverty, “he said, citing Tempi as an example:” Financial crime and corruption can kill – Tempi is one of these examples. “

“Our task as prosecutors is to ensure an objective investigation. In the context of the investigation, there were obstacles due to a constitutional provision, “he said.

“If you think there is corruption only in Greece, this is not the case. DThere is a state that there is no corruption. We see what we see here in other members. Because of OPEKEPE we see that there is corruption with agricultural subsidies in other Member States, “he commented and said:” The issue of corruption is not only Greek. “

‘Everyone must understand that Economic corruption can kill, Tempi is one such example. “he noted while commenting that “who says that the European Public Prosecutor’s Office is not independent, this is fake news”.

For the “Calypso” case

Concerning the Calypso case, he said that “it is a great success, we must turn it into a framework of systematic cooperation. That was the reason for my visit. Most importantly, through the strengthening of the Greek Branch of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, Greece can help reduce losses for the European budget, “the European Prosecutor initially said for the 2,534 containers in the port of Piraeus worth 250 million euros and indicated:

“The goal is what is happening here, to do everywhere. We are talking about another world, VAT fraud and cash fraud has evolved into the most profitable criminal activity in Europe. In Europe, the law must apply to everyone. “

“I have never met with the Prime Minister”

European prosecutor Laura Kovesi also said he has never met with the Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

Referring to her meetings with ministers, she noted that she first met with the Minister of Finance for the first time Kyriakos Pierrakakis: “He impressed me because he immediately understood what we were doing.”

For Justice Minister George Floridis explained that they had met “three or four times” and that “the last meetings are getting better”

Finally, she described her first first meeting yesterday with the Minister of Citizen Protection Michalis Chrysochoid.