EPPO to lead full investigation into Agrofert subsidies

The Supreme State Prosecutor's Office of the Czech Republic has ruled that the investigation into allegedly misappropriated subsidies for the Agrofert holding will remain entirely under the jurisdiction of the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO). This final decision resolves a jurisdictional dispute regarding whether the case should be split between European and national prosecutors.

The investigation stems from a criminal complaint filed by the Pirate Party concerning a potential conflict of interest involving former Prime Minister Andrej Babiš. Prosecutors are examining politicians and officials involved in the disbursement of funds, as well as why the Czech Republic has not recovered certain past subsidies from the holding.

The Supreme State Prosecutor's Office determined that dividing the case would contradict EU Council regulations and domestic legal frameworks. Because the European and national subsidies share a common factual basis and will likely require the same evidence, the investigation must be handled as a single, indivisible unit by the EPPO.