EC Says Constitutional Amendment Is Not Taking Its Concerns into Account

Bratislava, 29 September (TASR) - The European Commission (EC) has expressed regret that the adopted amendment to the Slovak Constitution does not take its concerns into account, in particular about how the proposed changes to Article 7 relate to EU law, TASR was told on Monday by Katarina Touquet Jaremova from the Representation of the European Commission in the Slovak Republic. The EC added that while the regulation of substantive matters of family law remains the prerogative of Member States, its implementation should not undermine the fundamental EU principle of non-discrimination. "Let us recall that EU law takes precedence over national law, including national constitutional provisions. We regret that the adopted legal text does not take into account the concerns expressed by the EC. Consultations were also held with the Venice Commission, which has recently issued its opinion with similar concerns," she said. According to Touquet Jaremova, the EU advocates for equality, which encompasses diversity, so that all its citizens can be themselves and live free from discrimination. "While the regulation of substantive matters of family law remains the prerogative of Member States, its implementation should not undermine the fundamental principle of Union law concerning non-discrimination," she said, adding that the EC takes note of the adoption of amendments to the Constitution by the Slovak parliament. "We understand that the next step lies with the Slovak president," she said. On Friday, Parliament approved the government's amendment to the Slovak Constitution. The amendment enshrines the existence of only two genders – male and female – and guarantees equal pay for men and women for the same work. It also introduces constitutional regulations regarding child adoption and the educational process. Its aim is to strengthen Slovakia's sovereignty in matters of values and cultural-ethical issues. jrg