EP Legal Affairs Committee in favor of stripping New Democracy MEP Zagorakis of immunity

The European Parliament's Committee on Legal Affairs unanimously decided to strip New Democracy MEP Theodoros Zagorakis of his parliamentary immunity, following a request forwarded by the Deputy Public Prosecutor at the Supreme Court of Greece on 19 December 2014 and announced in plenary on January 28, 2015.

According to the Committee's report, Zagorakis is accused of causing bodily harm by negligence and failing to comply with workplace safety regulations.

His prosecution concerns a workplace accident suffered on May 13, 2010 by an employee of the PAOK football club at the club's stadium in Thessaloniki and Theodoros Zagorakis is accused in his capacity as chair and legal representative of the club.

The report also notes that the alleged offence clearly has nothing to do with the office of member of the European Parliament held by Zagorakis but is instead linked to his position as chair of the PAOK football club.

The Committee also noted that the prosecution does not concern opinions expressed or votes cast in the performance of the duties of Member of the European Parliament and therefore there is no reason to suspect that the intention underlying the criminal proceedings is to damage Zagorakis' political activity, given that the prosecution was initiated a number of years before he took office.