What changed

B100245/2026

P10_TA(2026)0184

European Parliament resolution on the ruleRule of law, fundamental rights and misuse of EU funds in Slovakia: the need for an EU response

(2026/2607(RSP))

PE783.288

European Parliament resolution of 20 May 2026 on the rule of law, fundamental rights and misuse of EU funds in Slovakia: the need for an EU response (2026/2607(RSP))

– having regard to the Treaty on European Union (TEU), in particular Articles 2, 4, 4(3), 5, 6, 9 and 10 thereof, and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), in particular Article 20 thereof,

V. whereas the 2025 Rule of Law Report by the Civil Liberties Union for Europe highlights persistent concerns in Slovakia in the areas of judicial independence, the anti-corruption framework, media freedom, the use of fast-track legislative procedures, civic space and fundamental rights, particularly in respect of minorities and vulnerable groups;

W. whereas on 11 December 2025, the Slovak Parliament amended the Criminal Code in order to criminalise ‘denialthe questioning of the post-World‘post-World War II peacedecrees’; settlement’;whereas this recently adopted law risks creating a chilling effect on freedom of expression and academic freedom, as protected under the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union; whereas the continued confiscation of land on the basis of the above mentioned decrees that have been applied in particular to citizens belonging to the Hungarian national minority is in fact a land grabbing scheme, which has deprived hundreds of owners of valuable land and raises concerns regarding legal certainty and respect for the rule of law; whereas on 2 February 2022, the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities invited the Slovak authorities to enter into dialogue with representatives of the national minorities concerned about any possible negative effects of the 1945 regulation on confiscation of property on current interethnic relations;

1. Expresses deep concern over the deterioration of democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights in Slovakia; highlights that verifiable adherence by the Member States to both the rule of law and the Charter must be regarded as an essential precondition to receiving any EU funds; underlines that all programmes and investments financed by the EU budget must serve the public interest; stresses that systemic deficiencies in the rule of law, in particular in the independence of the judiciary and in audit and control systems, endanger the protection of the EU’s financial interests;

19. Calls on the Slovak authorities to ensure the effective prevention and combating of violence against women and domestic violence in law and in practice, in accordance with EU law and international human rights law; reiterates the importance of the ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence without delay and of bringing the legal definition of rape in line with international human rights standards;

20. Calls on the Slovak authorities, in view of the backlash provoked by several legislative initiatives in Slovakia, particularly since 2023, to ensure full compliance with their obligations to guarantee effective, timely and non-discriminatory access to sexual and reproductive health and rights;rights, including access to safe and legal abortion; recalls that these obligations derive from international human rights standards and are integral to the protection of fundamental rights, including the rights to private and family life, health and non-discrimination;

21. Calls on the Slovak authorities to ensure the effective protection of the rights of LGBTIQ+ persons in law and in practice, in accordance with EU law and international human rights law;

23. Expresses particular concern regarding the rights of minorities in Slovakia, in the light of political discourse, legislative initiatives and administrative practices that risk leading to discrimination, stigmatisation or exclusion, and regarding the retroactive confiscation of property on the basis of the collective guilt of EU citizens of various ethnic origins; believes that historical grievances should be addressed through dialogue rather than criminalisation; stresses that the protection of minority rights is a core component of the rule of law and democratic governance; calls on the Slovak authorities to ensure the effective protection of persons belonging to minorities in law and in practice, in accordance with EU law and international human rights law, in particular as regards the freedom of expression and the right to property;

24. Calls on the Slovak authorities to investigate systemic shortcomings that persist in the handling of complaints of police ill-treatment, including a lack of impartial and effective investigations into credible allegations of ill-treatment; calls for the strengthening of safeguards against ill-treatment by law enforcement authorities, including guarantees of institutional independence, effective oversight mechanisms and adequate procedural safeguards to ensure accountability and public trust in law enforcement institutions;

24. Expresses grave concern regarding administrative and judicial practices involving the Slovak Land Fund and the Forests of the Slovak Republic state enterprise resulting in uncompensated land and forest confiscations on the basis of post-war decrees; calls on the Slovak authorities to repeal the amendment of the Criminal Code, suspend all legal proceedings, and end any ongoing land confiscations;

25. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the United Nations.

25. Calls on the Slovak authorities to investigate systemic shortcomings that persist in the handling of complaints of police ill-treatment, including a lack of impartial and effective investigations into credible allegations of ill-treatment; calls for the strengthening of safeguards against ill-treatment by law enforcement authorities, including guarantees of institutional independence, effective oversight mechanisms and adequate procedural safeguards to ensure accountability and public trust in law enforcement institutions;

26. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the United Nations.