EU Diplomat Proposes Giving EPPO Authority to Prosecute Sanctions Evasion Cases

BRUSSELS — The EU’s top diplomat has proposed giving the bloc’s own organized crime prosecutors responsibility for bringing cases against companies and individuals that help Russia get around sanctions and fuel its war in Ukraine.

Kaja Kallas, the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, suggested handing oversight of sanctions circumventions cases to the European Prosecutor’s Public Office (EPPO). The Luxembourg-based agency would investigate those shipping sensitive trade goods that could be used by Moscow’s war machine or laundering money for the Kremlin.

Kallas floated the idea at a meeting with ambassadors from EU member countries on Wednesday, two diplomats with knowledge of the discussion said — although she stopped short of making concrete proposals at this stage.

The measure would see prosecutors target those inside the bloc’s own borders who fall foul of strict rules about working with sanctioned Russian and Belarusian entities, or engage in banned transactions. Enforcement of EU sanctions has been held back by a patchwork of national laws and different approaches from prosecutors in the 27 capitals.

EPPO is currently tasked with investigating and prosecuting serious organized crime, including money laundering, corruption and cross-border fraud. International sanctions enforcement would be a major addition to its remit.

In July, the EU approved its 21st package of sanctions against Moscow since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, targeting oil and gas exports, financial services and crypto exchanges used to move money into its institutions.

Kallas did not immediately respond to a request for comment.