The European Parliament has stepped up pressure on Slovakia, adopting a second rule-of-law resolution within a month and warning that the country could ultimately face the suspension of EU funds.
The new resolution broadens earlier concerns beyond the management of EU money to include the overall state of democracy, judicial independence, media freedom, NGOs and minority rights. Lawmakers cited continued deterioration since Prime Minister Robert Fico returned to power in 2023, pointing to reforms affecting the criminal code, public broadcasting and the constitution, as well as pressure on anti-corruption bodies.
MEPs called on the European Commission to assess whether there is a “clear risk of a serious breach” of EU values and urged it to use all available enforcement tools, including the rule-of-law conditionality mechanism. While not legally binding, the resolution significantly increases political pressure on Brussels to act.
In April, the Parliament also called on the Commission to consider freezing EU funds for Slovakia, reflecting growing political pressure from Brussels against governments that diverge from the bloc’s liberal-progressive agenda. Lawmakers backed triggering the conditionality mechanism, which could lead to the suspension of funding if concerns are not addressed.
However, no Slovak MEP supported the move, with several warning that cutting funds could harm citizens and economic stability.
Fico’s government has defended its reforms as necessary corrections to what it describes as politically biased institutions created by previous administrations.
