Vice President of the European Commission for Values and Transparency, Věra Jourová, stated that the European Commission would take immediate legal action against Slovakia if the government proceeds with a proposed law that requires NGOs receiving funding from abroad to label themselves as “organisations with foreign support”.
Jourová was in Bratislava and discussed the issue with the Slovak government. She warned that if Slovakia enacts a law similar to the one in Hungary regarding NGOs, the Commission will launch an infringement procedure immediately, as a court decision already exists. Hungary passed a similar law in 2017 but revoked it in 2021 after the European Court of Justice ruled it illegal.
The new government of Slovakia, led by nationalist Robert Fico, plans to introduce a law that would significantly restrict freedoms. Fico’s government has also changed the criminal code, overhauled the public broadcaster, and shifted the country’s foreign policy closer to Russia by terminating state military aid to Ukraine and aligning with Russian positions.
In response to the EU’s annual rule of law report, Fico stated that his government would engage in dialogue with the Commission regarding its recommendations. He also expressed that his government’s criticism is due to disagreements on foreign policy issues, with the Commission seeking “obedience”.
