EU prosecutors investigate Croatia over suspected farm fund fraud

The European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) has launched a criminal investigation into possible corruption and fraud ​involving European Union agricultural funds in Croatia, ‌it said on Wednesday.

Police were gathering evidence in several counties in central Croatia, it said in a statement.

The probe ​relates to the activities of Croatian nationals suspected ​of abuse of office and authority, receiving and ⁠offering bribes, subsidy fraud and forgery of documents ​as part of a criminal association and to ​the detriment of the EU's financial interests, the EPPO said.

It provided no further details in order not to endanger the outcome ​of the ongoing proceedings.

Croatia's agriculture ministry did not ​immediately comment on the EPPO's announcement.

The investigation comes on the ‌heels ⁠of a scandal in Greece over alleged fraud similarly related to EU farm subsidies that has shaken the centre-right government in recent months.

Last year, European prosecutors charged ​dozens of Greek ​stockbreeders with ⁠faking ownership of pastureland to claim millions of euros in EU subsidies, allegedly ​with the help of state employees ​and conservative ⁠politicians.

The affair has prompted ministerial resignations, led the EU last year to impose a record fine on Greece ⁠for ​mismanagement of the subsidies and led ​the Greek parliament to lift the immunity of 13 implicated lawmakers.

- Reuters