EPPO Appointed New Prosecutors for Germany and Slovenia
The Council reshuffled leadership at the EU fraud agency, signaling a shift for cross-border enforcement.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in People
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The European Council has appointed Christopher Wenzl and Tanja Frank Eler as European prosecutors for Germany and Slovenia, respectively. These appointments occur as part of a broader renewal of the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) following the expiration of seven mandates in July 2026.
Why it matters
The leadership changes at the EPPO come as the agency intensifies its oversight of large-scale financial crimes across its expanded membership. For businesses, this marks a period of evolving scrutiny, particularly concerning the agency's high-volume caseload and its broad reach into cross-border fiscal integrity.
The EPPO manages 3,602 active investigations with total estimated damages exceeding 67.27 billion euros. Each of the newly appointed European prosecutors serves a single non-renewable term of six years.
The players
European Public Prosecutor's Office
An independent EU agency responsible for investigating and prosecuting crimes against the financial interests of the European Union.
Andrés Ritter
The incoming European Chief Prosecutor who assumes leadership of the agency on 1 November 2026.
Christopher Wenzl
The newly appointed European prosecutor representing Germany.
Tanja Frank Eler
The newly appointed European prosecutor representing Slovenia.
The details
The EPPO functions through a decentralized model where one prosecutor is appointed per state from a list of three candidates. The process requires careful navigation of both national candidate pools and the central Council appointment structure. With Hungary joining in August 2026, the agency has expanded its jurisdictional scope for investigating complex VAT fraud and other financial crimes.
Timeline
End of 2025: EPPO reported 3,602 active investigations.
July 2026: Seven European prosecutor mandates expired.
August 2026: Hungary joined the EPPO.
1 November 2026: Christopher Wenzl begins his six-year term.
Market Landscape
These appointments follow the standard renewal cycle of the EPPO, which oversees a growing network of member states. The agency's reach has steadily increased with the recent inclusion of Hungary, cementing its role as the primary investigator for cross-border financial offenses.
Businesses operating within the EU should monitor the increased enforcement capacity of the EPPO as new leadership takes office. Compliance teams must ensure internal controls are robust enough to address the agency's broad mandate, especially regarding cross-border fiscal activity.
The takeaway
The EPPO's leadership transition signals an ongoing maturation of the agency's investigative capacity across European markets. Operators should review their existing cross-border financial reporting protocols to ensure compliance with the agency's expanding jurisdictional oversight.
Further reading
For more on evolving leadership and staffing trends, visit People.
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