Greek MEP, Maria Spyraki, will be investigated by EU’s authorities over fraud charges, not related to the charges brought against Eva Kaili who is held under suspicion of corruption and money laundering in the Qatargate scandal.
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), an independent body affiliated with the European Union, requested the lifting of immunity for Spyraki.
In a statement posted on its site, EPPO said that based on an investigative report received from the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), there is a “suspicion of fraud detrimental to the EU budget, in relation to the management of the parliamentary allowance, and in particular concerning the remuneration of Accredited Parliamentary Assistants.”
Greek MEP welcomes the decision in order to clear her name of fraud
Spyraki welcomed the lifting of her immunity “in order to become clear that I do not have any economic differences with the European Parliament, not even by a single euro.
“The issue relates to the overseas bonus of a former colleague of mine, who faced a serious personal problem and registered certain absences from the European Parliament’s meeting hall. I bear no connection to Qatargate, and I do not have any connection to any other case,” Spyraki who is an MEP with the governing New Democracy party said.
New Democracy Friday suspended the party membership of Spyraki amid the ongoing fraud investigation. She will not be able to run in next year’s nationwide elections until her status has been restored.
Reacting to the news during a visit to Brussels late Thursday, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis described the case as “very serious.”
Spyraki who was a spokesperson for New Democracy for a number of years was elected in the European Parliament in the 2019 elections.
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