EU top cop launches bombshell corruption probe into former European Investment Bank chief

Police officers from Germany and Luxembourg have in recent months seized material related to the investigation, according to the same officials. They also searched Hoyer’s home.  

Hoyer has denied any wrongdoing through his lawyer, who said that the EPPO’s probe focuses on the departure of an EIB employee and the compensation paid to him in this context. Hoyer signed off on the exit package, in accordance with EIB rules, ensnaring him in the probe — even though he was not part of the negotiations, the German’s legal team said.

“The allegations against me are downright absurd and, unfounded,” Hoyer said in an emailed statement to POLITICO. “I now expect them to be fully investigated and clarified and ask the EIB to co-operate fully with the EPPO. I am also co-operating fully with the EPPO and demand a full clarification of the facts from there.”

“We are calmly awaiting the investigations,” Hoyer’s lawyer Nikolaos Gazeas said. “They will prove that the criminal allegations against my client are unfounded and downright absurd. This is also why my client has expressly requested that his immunity and that of the EIB premises be waived so that this allegation can be clarified.”

POLITICO has reached out to the second person involved in the investigation for comment, but has not yet received a response. 

A spokesperson for the EIB said the lender “cannot comment on ongoing external investigations such as this. As is the Bank’s usual practice, we will cooperate fully with the European Public Prosecutor’s Office on this matter as required.”