EU Parliament accused of overreach after shielding top lawmakers from prosecutors – POLITICO

STRASBOURG — The European Parliament is poised on Tuesday to shield a senior German lawmaker from investigation, reigniting allegations that MEPs are abusing parliamentary immunity to protect their own.

The full Parliament will vote on whether to back a decision by the Legal Affairs Committee (JURI), which agreed on May 2 not to lift the immunity of Angelika Niebler, the head of the Christian Social Union delegation in the European People’s Party. The European Public Prosecutor’s Office and a German prosecutor wanted Niebler’s immunity lifted as part of an investigation into alleged misuse of EU funds.

“The allegations are unfounded. I wish that the facts of the matter are clarified as quickly and completely as possible,” Niebler told POLITICO in early November, adding “I will fully support this investigation.”