Justice Commissioner Věra Jourová | Thierry Charlier/AFP via Getty Images Dutch set to block new EU prosecutors’ office European Commissioner for Justice Věra Jourová has been lobbying across Europe.

The Netherlands is on Thursday expected to shoot down plans for a European public prosecutors' office that would have powers to investigate tax fraud that costs EU governments at least €50 billion a year.

After almost four years of difficult negotiations, the European Commission is putting pressure on skeptical justice ministers to agree to the creation of the prosecutors' office at this week's Justice and Home Affairs Council in Brussels.

"We collectively use the money of EU taxpayers and we should be able to collectively have better control over that money," European Commissioner for Justice Věra Jourová told POLITICO.

However, the Dutch parliament voted last month against the creation of the prosecutors' office, going against the recommendation of the country's justice minister, Ard van der Steur, who was instrumental in reaching a compromise agreement in the first half of this year. With Geert Wilders' anti-EU Freedom Party expected to gain seats in national elections next March, center-right MPs were reluctant to back the creation of a powerful new EU agency.

In addition to the Dutch, several governments including Sweden are unlikely to back the Commission's proposals.

"When I received information that the Dutch parliament voted against the [prosecutors' office], it was obvious we needed to intensify our lobbying effort in the countries which showed the greatest skepticism," said Jourová, who has traveled to Italy, France, Slovenia, Hungary and Poland in recent weeks to meet with ministers and MPs.

In order to win the backing of reluctant Central and Eastern countries, she raised the possibility of withholding €63.4 billion of EU cohesion funds if they don't support the plan.

"I myself cannot imagine [a member country] receiving a further financial injection from the common European treasury, without the willingness to be under the scope of the EPPO [European public prosecutors' office]," said Jourová. "It's a logical argument."

At the same time, the Commission is facing criticism that the plan doesn't have enough muscle. Italy, for example, argues it should be able to prosecute individuals accused of trafficking, terrorism and organized crime.

"It would be very unpleasant and illogical to lose Italy, which is traditionally the strongest supporter of the strongest possible action," said Jourová, who met with Italy's justice minister, Andrea Orlando, last week.

The Commission will find out Thursday if it has the backing of all EU governments — except the U.K., Ireland and Denmark, which have already opted out. Failing that, a group of at least nine countries can proceed via an “enhanced cooperation” procedure.