The European Parliament voted 418 to 207 on Wednesday to freeze EU funds for Slovakia over Prime Minister Robert Fico’s systematic undermining of the rule of law.
The European Parliament has voted to freeze EU funds for Slovakia, approving a resolution that officially urges the European Commission to activate the conditionality mechanism against Bratislava. The 418-to-207 vote, held on April 29, cites systematic threats to the rule of law and to the bloc’s financial interests under Prime Minister Robert Fico’s government — and marks the first time the Parliament has taken this step against Slovakia, as Aktuality.sk reported.
Broad Coalition, Clear Majority
The resolution passed with broad cross-party support, confirming pre-vote predictions by its rapporteur, German MEP Daniel Freund of the Greens. The European People’s Party (EPP), the Socialists and Democrats (S&D), Renew Europe and the Greens all backed the report without tabling amendments. An amendment put forward by the Patriots for Europe group, which alleged censorship by the Commission, did not pass.
Fico Failed To Convince MEPs
Ahead of the vote, European Parliament committees conducted fact-finding missions to Bratislava, where MEPs met with Fico directly. Freund said the prime minister’s arguments did not hold up.
“I did not have the impression that he was genuinely trying to convince us during that meeting. He spent most of the time explaining how much worse the government before him had been. But we were not there on some historical research mission — we came to look at the current situation in the country”, Freund said.
He added that the Parliament’s concern is not a government’s political family but the protection of European taxpayers’ money. Freund also pointed to dozens of so-called “haciendas” – luxury villas and guesthouses built or renovated using EU funds – which he said belong to allies and associates of the current government.
Slovak Defence Minister Robert Kalinák dismissed the result, saying it reflected “the activity of an MEP pursuing his own political agenda” and accused Freund of lying.
Slovak MEPs Split — Progressive Slovakia Boycotts
Slovak MEPs from the main opposition party Progressive Slovakia chose to boycott the vote. In a joint statement, they said they shared the values behind the resolution but feared the consequences for ordinary citizens.
“We in Progressive Slovakia understand that without European money, Slovakia will be brought to its knees, regardless of how good or bad its government is,” the MEPs said.”We are protecting EU funds, but we cannot cover up Fico’s wrongdoings.”
The remaining nine Slovak MEPs — from Smer-SD, SNS and other groups — voted against the resolution.
What Happens Next
Wednesday’s vote does not automatically halt the flow of EU money to Slovakia. The actual decision to freeze funds rests with the European Commission and must be approved by EU member states, a process that could take months. The Parliament’s resolution nevertheless increases political pressure on the Commission to act. Freund has previously argued that the EU learned from its years of inaction over Hungary and intends to intervene before democratic institutions are fully dismantled.
The Parliament cited several specific concerns: the abolition of Slovakia’s Special Prosecutor’s Office, the dismantling of the NAKA organised crime unit, changes to the Criminal Code that reportedly reduce sentences for corruption, and pressure on whistleblowers.
Domestic Reactions
The vote drew sharp responses at home. Smer-SD MP Richard Glück called the resolution “one of dozens of meaningless resolutions that carry no binding force for the European Commission” and accused Progressive Slovakia of having arranged the vote through “friends in the faction”. SNS leader Andrej Danko said he planned to ask Fico to pursue changes that would protect Slovakia’s veto rights within the EU.
The opposition took the opposite view. MP Veronika Remišová of the Slovakia Movement-For the People party called the vote “an enormous international disgrace”, saying Fico’s government had “from the start done nothing but protect the interests of criminal groups and dismantle the justice system.”
Slovak President Peter Pellegrini described the resolution as politically motivated, saying it amounted to punishing Slovakia for its government’s views. “I firmly believe that in the end this vote will not succeed and that the EU will not freeze our EU funds,” he said.
