- HMRC has extended Fujitsu’s £67 million contract for Trader Support Service.
- Fujitsu was involved in the Horizon Post Office IT scandal that led to wrongful prosecutions.
- The contract extension is not classified as a new contract, allowing it to proceed.
The UK government has agreed to extend a £67 million post-Brexit contract with Fujitsu, the firm behind the Horizon IT scandal that falsely accused hundreds of sub-postmasters.
The European Union is still grappling with whether to expand the powers of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) to prosecute those evading sanctions on Russia. After a recent informal meeting in Warsaw, EU justice ministers showed little progress on the issue.
EU Sanctions-Evasion Prosecutor Powers Still at Impasse After Warsaw Talks
The UK government has decided to extend its contract with Fujitsu, worth £67 million, for another year to manage the Trader Support Service (TSS). This service helps businesses with customs declarations after Brexit. The decision follows a year of controversy over Fujitsu’s role in the Horizon IT scandal, which led to the wrongful prosecution of many sub-postmasters for theft and fraud.
Fujitsu had previously distanced itself from government contracts after the Horizon scandal, but this extension is being treated as an extension of an existing contract rather than a new one. Despite the backlash surrounding its involvement in the wrongful prosecutions, the company remains a key player in the post-Brexit support for businesses trading between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Meanwhile, the EU has yet to resolve the ongoing debate regarding the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) and its powers to prosecute those circumventing sanctions against Russia. The issue has been under discussion for over two years, with Poland and several other countries advocating for an expanded mandate to hold sanctions-dodgers accountable.
However, some EU member states remain hesitant to grant EPPO such authority. They argue that a closer examination of how the office currently operates is necessary before giving it broader powers. This debate will likely continue, with a decision expected in March 2025, when the EU justice ministers meet again to discuss the issue.
The extension of the Fujitsu contract highlights ongoing concerns about accountability and transparency, while the EU’s struggle over expanding prosecutor powers against sanctions evasion signals a complex path ahead.
“The extension was approved because it is not a new contract.” – highlighting the ongoing role of Fujitsu in post-Brexit processes despite past controversies.
