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BRUSSELS – The European Commission issued seven recommendations for Slovakia in its annual report on the rule of law in EU member states on Wednesday (July 24). The recommendations for Slovakia follow up on last year’s, which the SR implemented either partially or not at all, TASR reports.
The European Commission’s recommendations for Slovakia concern, among other things, the independence of members of the Judicial Council, regarding their dismissal, or the observance of guarantees in cases where judges must bear criminal responsibility for the crime of “bending the law” in connection with their judicial decisions. The European Commission also recommends that Slovakia submit legislative proposals to regulate lobbying and strengthen laws on conflicts of interest and asset declarations. According to the European Commission, Slovakia made no progress in these areas last year.
The European Commission in the report further expresses concerns about the authority of the Attorney General to overturn decisions of lower prosecutors. In this context, it also noted the abolition of the Special Prosecutor’s Office, which happened despite the concerns raised. The European Commission expressed concerns that the abolition of the prosecutor’s office could impact investigated cases and could threaten the efficiency and independence of their prosecution. According to the European Commission, reforms in criminal law in some member states can also undermine the fight against corruption. It pointed to such a reform in Slovakia concerning the reduction of penalties for corruption and related crimes. According to it, the fight against corruption in Slovakia could also be weakened by the abolition of the Special Prosecutor’s Office.
In its annual report, the Commission recommended that Slovakia ensure effective and independent investigation and prosecution of high-level corruption cases, including preventing unnecessary interventions in these cases and limiting the Attorney General’s powers to overturn final decisions related to their investigation and prosecution.
On the contrary, according to the European Commission, Slovakia has made some progress in improving the physical safety and working environment of journalists. However, the European Commission recommended that the SR make further progress in this process and also strengthen rules and mechanisms to support the independent management and editorial independence of public service media.
The European Commission also notes the law on the abolition of Radio and Television Slovakia (RTVS) and the establishment of Slovak Television and Radio (STVR). It warns that the law raises concerns about the independence of this public broadcaster in the future.
The European Commission’s final recommendation is to ensure effective public consultations and the involvement of stakeholders in the legislative process. According to it, Slovakia made no progress in this area last year. The European Commission has been issuing a rule of law report since 2020, covering four pillars – national justice, anti-corruption frameworks, media freedom and pluralism, as well as other institutional checks and balances. The report examines the situation in the EU as a whole every year and includes 27 chapters on significant developments in individual member states. The European Commission assesses the fulfillment of last year’s recommendations in the report and, on this basis, provides further recommendations to all member states.