The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) has initiated a criminal investigation into alleged corruption and fraud involving subsidies from the European Union’s agricultural funds in Croatia. This was officially announced by the EPPO.
According to the prosecutor’s office, the investigation concerns several Croatian nationals suspected of committing crimes as part of an organised criminal group. The alleged offences include:
abuse of office and authority;
accepting and offering bribes;
subsidy fraud;
document forgery.
All these actions are believed by investigators to be detrimental to the financial interests of the European Union.
Yesterday, on 6 May 2026, at the request of the EPPO, urgent investigative measures were carried out in Zagreb and several Croatian counties (županiyas), including searches and the collection of evidence. The operation was conducted in coordination with local law enforcement authorities.
The EPPO has not disclosed the names of the suspects or the exact sums involved, citing the interests of the investigation. However, cases of this nature frequently involve the unlawful acquisition of millions of euros from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and related national programmes.
Croatia, as an EU member state, receives substantial funding in support of its agricultural sector. Nevertheless, instances of agricultural subsidy fraud are periodically recorded across various countries of the bloc. This is not the first EPPO investigation in Croatia connected to agricultural funds.