ZARZALEJOS AND ZDECHOVSKÝ WARN OF DEMOCRATIC BACKSLIDING IN SLOVAKIA AND CALL FOR STRONGER PROTECTION OF EUROPEAN FUNDS

On the occasion of the first anniversary of the fact-finding missions carried out by the European Parliament’s Committees on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) and Budgetary Control (CONT) to Slovakia, European People’s Party (EPP) MEPs Javier Zarzalejos and Tomáš Zdechovský held a press conference on 20 March to present the main findings of both missions and to warn about the worrying deterioration of the rule of law in the country.

During their remarks, both MEPs argued that the protection of the European Union’s fundamental values and the sound management of European resources are inseparable issues. They stressed that respect for the rule of law is an essential condition for ensuring that European taxpayers’ money is used transparently, effectively, and in accordance with democratic principles.

Zarzalejos emphasised that the conclusions reached by the LIBE and CONT parliamentary delegations remain fully valid one year after their visits to Bratislava. Among the main concerns highlighted were the weakening of anti-corruption mechanisms, the dismantling of specialised structures responsible for investigating economic crimes, increasing pressure on journalists and civil society organisations, and the repeated use of accelerated legislative procedures to adopt far-reaching reforms without adequate public debate.

The EPP representatives warned that European funds belong to citizens and must not become instruments serving partisan interests or patronage networks. They therefore called for rigorous oversight of EU resources and reiterated that any suspicion of fraud or misuse must be investigated thoroughly, with all appropriate safeguards and consequences.

Zarzalejos was particularly forceful in recalling that “the European Union is not a cash machine,” but rather a political community founded on shared values, rights, and obligations. In this regard, he insisted that access to European funds must be accompanied by full respect for the principles of the rule of law and the responsible management of public resources.

The two MEPs also urged the European Commission to make full use of all the instruments at its disposal to protect both the EU budget and the fundamental values enshrined in the Treaties, including supervisory and conditionality mechanisms where risks to the proper use of Union funds exist.

The press conference took place on the eve of a debate and vote in the European Parliament on a resolution concerning the state of the rule of law, fundamental rights, and the possible misuse of European funds in Slovakia. The resolution was ultimately adopted by a broad majority of the Parliament’s political groups.