The new European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) is expected to be operational by the end of 2020 and will be in charge of investigating, prosecuting and bringing to justice crimes against the EU budget, such as fraud, corruption or cross-border VAT fraud above €10 million.

Ireland is one of six EU member states - including the UK, Sweden, Hungary, Poland and Denmark - that has not joined the EPPO so far.

In a secret ballot yesterday, the European Parliament’s civil liberties committee (LIBE) backed Ms Kövesi for the top post with 26 votes, ahead of Jean-François Bohnert from France with 22 votes, and Andrés Ritter from Germany with just one vote.

On Tuesday, the committee on budgetary control (CONT) also backed Ms Kövesi with 12 votes, ahead of Mr Bohnert with 11 votes and Mr Ritter with just one vote.

However, EURACTIV reports that a rift could open between MEPs and the Council of the European Union, which backed Mr Bohnert by 50 votes to 29 for both Ms Kövesi and Mr Ritter.

The European chief prosecutor has to be jointly appointed by common accord by the European Parliament and the Council.