Plenković says EPPO should apologize over Geodesy case allegations

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said on Thursday that the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) should apologize for suggesting that Culture Minister Nina Obuljen Koržinek was connected to the so-called Geodesy corruption case.

Ten of the 29 people indicted by EPPO over alleged corruption and misuse of EU funds involving the Ministry of Culture and Zagreb's Faculty of Geodesy have been convicted after pleading guilty to all charges. Proceedings against the remaining 19 defendants—including a former state secretary, a former dean and a former professor at the faculty—are ongoing.

Plenković insisted that the alleged wrongdoing was committed by individuals linked to the Faculty of Geodesy and that the culture minister had no involvement in the case. He accused EPPO of unfairly creating the impression that Obuljen Koržinek was implicated.

"What has come to light in the Geodesy case once again fully confirms what we have been saying all along. Perhaps this would be the right moment for EPPO to apologize to the Minister of Culture and the Government. Coming out with insinuations through its people in the media, practically accusing the Minister of Culture of involvement in the misuse of funds, especially European funds, at the very beginning of the 2024 election campaign, was a malicious attempt to influence the election result," Plenković said.

According to the indictment, the defendants are charged with abuse of office and authority, corruption, unlawful favoritism, forgery of official documents and money laundering. Prosecutors allege that they siphoned off an estimated €2.8 million in state funds allocated for earthquake recovery.

The case prompted opposition parties to call for the culture minister's resignation.