Changes from resolution motion to adopted text

3. Regrets the fact that Slovakia has adopted a series of amendments to its criminal law and criminal procedure law, including a reduction in penalties for corruption and financial crimes, a shortening of limitation periods, and the closure of specialised anti-corruption entities, the National Crime Agency and the Special Prosecutor’s Office, which has resulted in delays in investigations transferred to other bodies and a significant drop in the number of corruption cases, and which undermines the prosecution of offences involving EU funds; expresses concern over the broad discretionary powers granted to the Prosecutor General in Slovakia under Article 363 of the Slovak Criminal Procedure Code, which may allow the interruption or delay of criminal proceedings on formal grounds without sufficient safeguards, thereby posing risks to the effective investigation and prosecution of cases, in particular corruption-related offences; expresses concern over the reported harassment and investigation of former anti-corruption investigators and considers that these actions weaken the fight against corruption, risk undermining the protection of the EU’s financial interests and may have a chilling effect on independent investigations; expresses further concerns about the discovery of conflicts of interest in the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility;

4. Expresses deep concern about the constitutional amendments in Slovakia, in particular those restricting fundamental rights, the rule of law and the primacy of EU law; notes with concern that civil society organisations have warned that these amendments may violate fundamental rights; stresses that constitutional provisions must be formulated with sufficient precision to prevent arbitrary interpretation and must fully comply with obligations under EU law, including the Charter, as well as international human rights standards; recalls that the primacy of EU law and the binding nature of international obligations must be fully respected and that no constitutional provision can justify non-compliance with judgments of the CJEU or the European Court of Human Rights; calls on the Slovak authorities to ensure that its Constitution complies fully with EU law and international human rights law and to take into account the recommendations of the Venice Commission and international human rights bodies, in particular as regards the primacy of EU law, the rights to private and family life, non-discrimination on grounds of gender and sexual orientation and the right to education;

5. Calls on the Commission to assess the compliance of recent legislative changes with EU law and apply the provisions of the Common Provisions Regulation in cases of non-compliance with the horizontal enabling conditions thereunder;

6. Emphasises that the Rule of Law Conditionality Regulation is not limited to last-resort measures, but also provides for early action with partial suspensions where rule of law breaches are identified that pose a serious risk to the sound financial management of the EU budget; reiterates its call made in the context of the 2024 budgetary discharge of the Commission to initiate the first step of the procedure laid down in Article 6 (1) of the Rule of Law Conditionality Regulation;

7. Expresses deep concern over the attempted abolition of the Whistleblower Protection Office, which would have led to a substantial reduction in the level of protection afforded to whistleblowers, including increased exposure to retaliation and reduced access to legal safeguards; rejects provisions introducing a ‘review mechanism’ allowing authorities or employers to withdraw whistleblower protection without judicial oversight, thereby jeopardising the fundamental right to an effective remedy as enshrined in the Charter; stresses that limiting whistleblower protection is incompatible with the EU Whistleblower Directive and undermines the rule of law; welcomes the decision of the Slovak Parliament of 17 March 2026 to repeal the controversial law and maintain the Whistleblower Protection Office; calls on the Commission to closely monitor the implementation of the repeal of the legislation abolishing the Whistleblower Protection Office in Slovakia, in order to ensure that this repeal fully restores the previous level of protection and aligns with EU law, and to assess the extent and effectiveness of the repeal before considering any further action; calls on the Slovak authorities to ensure compliance with EU law and standards on whistleblower protection;

8. Urges the Commission to intensify targeted controls and on-the-spot checks in Slovakia, including through strengthened and systematic cooperation with OLAF and the EPPO, in order to compensate for the weakening of national enforcement capacities and ensure effective follow-up to ongoing investigations; stresses that such controls must be systematically applied across all relevant EU funding streams, including both multiannual financial framework and Recovery and Resilience Facility funds;

9. Reaffirms its readiness to work in a spirit of sincere cooperation with the Slovak authorities, as well as with civil society and independent institutions, with a view to addressing the identified shortcomings; underlines that the objective of its scrutiny and missions is to support the strengthening of democratic institutions, the rule of law and the proper use of EU funds; calls on the Slovak authorities to engage constructively and proactively with the EU institutions in this process;

10. Calls on the Slovak authorities to fully implement the recommendations of the Commission, the GRECO and the Venice Commission on the judiciary and anti-corruption, in particular as regards the repeal of the criminal offence of abuse of law and ensuring the independence and impartiality of the Judicial Council in law and practice, the functioning of specialised anti-corruption entities, substantive and procedural criminal law and the independence of prosecutors;

11. Strongly condemns the closure of the Special Prosecutor’s Office in light of its evident impact on the investigation and prosecution of corruption, which cannot be compensated by the activities of the EPPO, especially in the light of reported ‘fragmenting’ of the fraudulent activity in such a way that the alleged value of a case remains below the threshold established for the involvement of the EPPO; underlines the need for an urgent reassessment of the recent changes; calls on the Slovak authorities to ensure full, timely and proactive cooperation with the EPPO and OLAF;

12. Reiterates its concerns about the functioning of the Slovak Agricultural Paying Agency and the management of common agricultural policy funding, including structural failures confirmed by the Supreme Audit Office of the Slovak Republic, inadequate control mechanisms, insufficient remedial actions, and increasing disbursements with weak controls; considers that these shortcomings confirm the serious and systemic weaknesses in the management and control system governing agricultural expenditure in Slovakia;

13. Expresses concern about allegations of misuse and irregularities in the implementation of EU-funded rural development and tourism projects in Slovakia, including cases related to EU-funded guesthouse projects, involving the alleged misuse of agricultural and rural development funds for the construction or renovation of luxury private estates with limited or no clear EU added value; stresses that such practices, where confirmed, would constitute a serious breach of the principles of sound financial management, transparency and equal treatment, and would undermine public trust in the EU budget;

14. Recalls the obligation of the Member States to ensure the effective, transparent and accountable management of EU funds; calls on the Slovak authorities to take immediate and effective remedial measures to deliver concrete benefits for citizens, including strengthening internal control systems, ensuring proper detection and management of conflicts of interest, and improving the recovery of irregular payments, in full cooperation with the Commission;

15. Expresses deep concern about the deterioration of media freedom and pluralism in Slovakia, including political interference in public service media, pressure on journalists through a climate of hostility, smear campaigns and disinformation, the use of strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs), including by high-ranking political figures, and the risk of a concentration of media ownership in politically aligned hands, combined with dismissals of key cultural institution leaders, which risk creating a chilling effect on press freedom and public discourse; stresses that a weakened media environment significantly reduces democratic scrutiny and facilitates corruption in the implementation of EU funds; calls on the Slovak authorities to fully implement the Commission’s recommendations regarding the media, in particular as regards the legal framework for public service media, in compliance with the European Media Freedom Act and ensuring editorial independence and the protection of journalists; calls on Slovakia to fully and effectively comply with the European Media Freedom Act and urges the Commission to closely and proactively monitor its implementation; recalls that the Slovak authorities have to respect the freedom of expression and arts in the functioning and funding of cultural institutions, and to refrain from the misuse of legal actions that restrict public debate; pays tribute to Ján Kuciak following his assassination and to his essential work as an investigative journalist; calls on the Slovak authorities to ensure that justice is served in this case;

16. Regrets the repeated and unjustified use of fast-track legislative procedures for substantial reforms; stresses that such procedures must not become the norm and should be strictly justified only under duly substantiated circumstances, as they undermine public scrutiny, transparency and inclusive law-making and limit meaningful consultation and parliamentary debate; calls on the Slovak authorities to fully implement the recommendations of the Commission and the GRECO regarding checks and balances, in particular as regards effective public consultation and stakeholder involvement in the law-making process, including by addressing the frequent use of the fast-track procedure; reiterates its concerns about access to information for journalists and civil society organisations, including to reports of the Supreme Audit Office and the Control Section of the Government Office;

17. Strongly denounces the increasing pressure placed on civil society organisations, watchdogs and justice professionals, including administrative burdens and attempts to delegitimise their work; considers that such actions undermine accountability and the effective protection of fundamental rights; calls on the Slovak authorities to end the stigmatisation and persecution of civil society organisations and to ensure that legislation affecting civil society, including on funding and reporting, fully respects EU law and international human rights law, in particular with regard to the right to private life, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and freedom of association;

18. Calls on the Slovak authorities to ensure that electoral legislation, including on postal voting, and criminal sanctions related to violations of such legislation, fully respects EU law and international human rights law, in particular with regard to the right to vote and be elected, freedom of expression and freedom of association; recalls that restrictions on postal voting should be duly justified and proportionate, in particular in the absence of substantiated systemic deficiencies regarding the integrity of such voting, and stresses the need to ensure equal access to electoral participation for Slovak citizens residing abroad;

19. Calls on the Slovak authorities to ensure the effective prevention and combating of violence against women and domestic violence in law and in practice, in accordance with EU law and international human rights law; reiterates the importance of the ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence without delay and of bringing the legal definition of rape in line with international human rights standards;