sk flag go to the original language article
This article has been translated by Artificial Intelligence (AI). The news agency is not responsible for the content of the translated article. The original was published by TASR.

The Slovak Government approved the proposal for amendments to the Criminal Code taking into account consultations with the EC

by AI | 11.Jul 2024 | Europe in brief AI

As part of the offenses of obstructing tax administration, indirect corruption, and accepting and offering an undue advantage, it is proposed to align the penalties of imprisonment with the requirements arising from the relevant directive of the European Parliament and the Council of the EU. “For this purpose, the penalties of imprisonment are appropriately adjusted,” states the explanatory report.

Photo from the 43rd meeting of the Government of the Slovak Republic on July 10, 2024, in Bratislava. PHOTO TASR - Pavel Neubauer

Bratislava – The government approved the proposal for changes to the Criminal Code at its meeting on Wednesday, which takes into account the results of consultations with the European Commission (EC). Among other things, it concerns the adjustment of penalties for certain crimes. The cabinet proposes to the National Council (NR) of the Slovak Republic to discuss the amendment in an accelerated legislative procedure.

The Minister of Justice, Boris Susko (Smer-SD), pointed out that the proposed changes concern provisions related to the protection of the EU’s financial interests. “We essentially proposed these changes after consultation with the European Commission, so that we eliminate any potential attack on the Slovak Republic in advance both from our opposition and other parties,” he told the media after the government’s meeting on Wednesday.

He spoke of an effort to approve the amended legislation before the Constitutional Court of the Slovak Republic ruling regarding the amendment to the penal codes comes into effect. He will ask the Deputy Speaker of the National Council of the Slovak Republic, Peter Žiga (Hlas-SD), to convene an extraordinary parliamentary session.

In the case of crimes damaging the EU’s financial interests, it is proposed that a mandatory prison sentence be applied if the maximum penalty set in the specific part of the Criminal Code exceeds six years.

“In view of the changes and supplements to the Criminal Code concerning the protection of the European Union’s financial interests, it is proposed to introduce an explicit legal definition of the concept of the European Union’s financial interests into the Criminal Code,” explained the Ministry of Justice in the explanatory report on the legislative proposal.

In terms of crimes of obstructing tax administration, indirect corruption, and acceptance or provision of undue advantages, it is proposed to align the penalties with the requirements stemming from the respective directive of the European Parliament and the Council of the EU. “For this purpose, the penalties are appropriately adjusted,” the explanatory report states.

The Criminal Code also introduces a provision for assessing the impacts of the new legal regulation, which shortens the statute of limitations if, before the amendment, the statute of limitations was interrupted in cases of crimes that damage the EU’s financial interests. The government proposes that the amendment to the Criminal Code come into effect on the day of its announcement. (July 10)