Concerns over democratic backsliding in Slovakia are intensifying after the European Parliament adopted a resolution calling for stronger action to protect the rule of law and investigate the alleged misuse of EU funds.
For liberals, the issue goes beyond national politics. The debate reflected growing concern that when democratic safeguards begin to weaken, so too does public trust in how European money is managed and protected.
The resolution, strongly backed by liberals, calls on the European Commission to launch a full investigation into the alleged misuse of EU funds and to strengthen protections for Slovak citizens voting from abroad. It also sends a wider political message: European funding and European values cannot be separated.
Sophie Wilmès MEP (MR, BE) led fact-finding missions to Bratislava last year, and said the findings pointed to serious concerns surrounding corruption, institutional weakening and democratic oversight.
“European funds must serve the public interest, and therefore the interests of citizens. But when the rule of law, an independent judiciary, or the media are weakened, we cannot remain bystanders,” Wilmès said following the vote.
The dismantling of anti-corruption safeguards and the alleged misuse of European funds emerged as central findings during the Parliament’s missions to Slovakia. Particular attention has focused on the Agricultural Paying Agency and the so-called “guesthouse projects”, where EU funding allegedly financed luxury private estates with little or no public benefit.
Wilmès argued that the European Parliament now has a responsibility to act on those findings.
“The findings are clear after the two missions of Parliament to Slovakia. With today’s vote, Parliament is taking responsibility and sending a clear signal: the Commission and the Slovak authorities must now take concrete action to ensure respect for European values and obligations,” she added.
The resolution also raises wider concerns around the state of democracy in Slovakia, including judicial independence, the primacy of EU law, minority rights and the increasing use of accelerated legislative procedures that critics argue weaken democratic scrutiny and legal certainty.
Since the European Parliament first debated Slovakia earlier this year, further concerns have emerged regarding efforts by Robert Fico’s government to challenge aspects of EU law. Liberals are now calling on Slovak authorities to strengthen electoral safeguards and ensure equal voting rights for Slovak citizens living abroad.
With around 80% of public investment in Slovakia linked to European funding, liberals argue that accountability, transparency and democratic oversight are essential not only for protecting EU taxpayers’ money, but for safeguarding trust in democratic institutions themselves.
Supported by four other political groups in the European Parliament, the resolution marks another step in ongoing liberal efforts to defend the rule of law, transparency and accountable governance across the European Union.