The European Parliament (EP) has rejected a request to lift the parliamentary immunity of German MEP Angelika Niebler, blocking an investigation requested by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO).
The decision follows a vote in which 309 Members of the EP backed a recommendation from the Legal Affairs Committee (JURI) to refuse the waiver.
Niebler, a long-serving MEP and leader of the CSU delegation within the European People’s Party (EPP), is accused of improperly using EU-funded resources. Investigators suspect Niebler may have improperly used EU-funded parliamentary assistants to chauffeur her from her hometown of Munich to Brussels and Strasbourg, as well as to private and business appointments not linked to her work as an MEP. Niebler has denied wrongdoing, insisting the accusations are “untrue.”
Investigators believe these actions could amount to fraud, though Niebler has denied all wrongdoing and described the accusations as untrue.
The JURI argued there were serious doubts about the motives behind the case and suggested it may have been politically driven.
According to officials, several MEPs were cautious about revealing their position ahead of the secret ballot, hoping for a potential late shift in support to lift her immunity, but this effort ultimately failed. One EPP insider said
She played it quite smart, promising transparency and then organising a majority [to protect her].
Parliamentary immunity protects MEPs from legal proceedings. By voting against lifting Niebler’s immunity, lawmakers have effectively blocked the EPPO from continuing its investigation into alleged misuse of public funds.
