Slovakia may lose EU funds

The European Parliament called on the European Commission to trigger the so‑called conditionality mechanism against Slovakia, which could lead to a freeze on EU funds. The EC is not required to act on the call, and any freeze would likely take around a year. The EP cited a weakening of anti‑corruption efforts that could result in the misuse of EU subsidies. It noted, for example, that the government failed to investigate fraud involving EU funds used to build private haciendas. Slovak MEPs either voted against the call or did not take part in the vote.

The EU has frozen cohesion funds only once before, for similar reasons withholding €22bn from Hungary.

(pravda.sk, dennikN.sk)