BUDGET: COMMISSION IN LINE WITH CONVENTION ON EUROPEAN PUBLIC PROSECUTOR.

The European Commission adopted on March 19 a follow-up report on consultations held in 2002 on its Green Paper on criminal law protection of the financial interests of the EU and the establishment of a European public prosecutor (see European Report 2760, same Section). During the Inter-Governmental Conference in Nice in 2000, the Commission proposed establishing a public prosecutor to help wage a more effective campaign against fraud and corruption affecting the EU's financial interests. This objective is still on the Commission list of priorities, particularly against the background of the European Convention and the formulation of a constitutional treaty. The draft version of Chapter 3 (judicial co-operation in criminal matters ) of the policy for establishing a area of freedom, security and justice, as presented by the Presidium during the March 17-18 plenary session (see European Report 2760, same Section) speaks of winning unanimous Council support to create a European public prosecutor's office...