Judgment of the Court (Fourth Chamber) of 16 December 2021.#Criminal proceedings against HP.#Request for a preliminary ruling from the Spetsializiran nakazatelen sad.#Reference for a preliminary ruling – Judicial cooperation in criminal matters – European Investigation Order (EIO) – Directive 2014/41/EU – Article 2(c)(i) – Concept of ‘issuing authority’ – Article 6 – Conditions for issuing an EIO – Article 9(1) and (3) – Recognition of an EIO – EIO seeking to obtain traffic and location data associated with telecommunications, issued by a public prosecutor designated as ‘issuing authority’ by the national measure transposing Directive 2014/41 – Exclusive competence of the judge, in a similar domestic case, to order the investigative measure indicated in that order.#Case C-724/19.