Andrés Ritter Confirmed as European Chief Prosecutor

EU Council Sanctions Press Releases

Published November 1st, 2026

Detected March 10th, 2026

Summary

The Council of the EU has confirmed the appointment of Andrés Ritter as the new European Chief Prosecutor for the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO). His term begins on November 1, 2026, succeeding Laura Codruța Kövesi. The EPPO investigates crimes against the financial interests of the EU.

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What changed

The Council of the EU has officially confirmed the appointment of Andrés Ritter as the new European Chief Prosecutor for the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO), effective November 1, 2026. Ritter, who has served as deputy European chief prosecutor since 2020, will lead the EPPO in its mandate to investigate, prosecute, and bring to judgment crimes affecting the financial interests of the Union, such as fraud and corruption.

This confirmation is a procedural step, as the appointment also requires confirmation by the European Parliament. The EPPO currently oversees over 3,600 active investigations with an estimated damage exceeding €67.2 billion. This notice is primarily informational for EU institutions and legal professionals involved in the justice and fighting crime sectors.

Source document (simplified)

Council of the EU
Press release
9 March 2026 10:50

EPPO: Council confirms Andrés Ritter as the new European chief prosecutor

The Council today agreed to the appointment of Andrés Ritter as the new European chief prosecutor to the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) with effect from 1 November 2026.

Andrés Ritter joined Germany’s prosecution service in 1995 and headed various prosecution offices. Ritter has been deputy European chief prosecutor since 2020.

The EPPO is an independent body of the EU responsible for investigating, prosecuting and bringing crimes against the financial interests of the Union (e.g. fraud, corruption, cross-border VAT fraud above €10 million) to judgment.

Role and mandate

The European chief prosecutor is the head of the EPPO, organises its work and represents the Office in contacts with EU institutions, member states and third countries.

The European chief prosecutor is appointed for a non-renewable term of seven years. The mandate of the current EPPO chief, Laura Codruța Kövesi, expires on 30 October 2026.

European prosecutors, together with the European chief prosecutor, form the EPPO College. They supervise investigations and prosecutions. The Council appoints a European prosecutor for each of the 24 participating member states.

Next steps

The European chief prosecutor is appointed by common agreement between the Council and the EP. The appointment must now also be confirmed by the European Parliament.

Background

The EPPO is responsible for investigating and prosecuting crimes affecting the financial interests of the EU before the competent courts of the member states. The first-ever European chief prosecutor, Laura Codruța Kövesi, was appointed in 2019. By the end of 2025, EPPO had 3 602 active investigations, for a total estimated damage of over €67.2 billion to the EU and national budgets.

Currently 24 member states participate in the EPPO: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain and Sweden.