PS Wants Special Session of Parliamentary European Affairs Committee

Bratislava, 5 March (TASR) - The opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) party has called for a special session of the parliamentary European affairs committee, at which it wants to discuss investigations into cases that the European Public Prosecutor's Office has pointed to, committee vice-chair Beata Jurik (PS) told a news conference on Thursday. Jurik also drew attention to findings from the European Public Prosecutor's Office's annual report on fraud involving EU funds and tax fraud, describing them as alarming. "In 2025, the European Public Prosecutor's Office launched 67 new investigations in Slovakia concerning €322 million, while in 2024 it launched 69 investigations concerning €230 million. We're a paradise for EU fund-related fraud," stated Jurik. PS also wants to ask at the committee session why Slovakia still doesn't have a successor for the post of European Prosecutor representing Slovakia selected, as it believes that this has worsened the situation even further. "The term in office of the current representative will expire in late July. If we fail to select his successor, a serious problem with prosecuting fraud will arise," she stated, noting that this prosecutor is crucial, for example, when it comes to investigations into hacienda cases. PS wants to invite Justice Minister Boris Susko (Smer-SD), Police Corps President Jana Maskarova, Prosecutor-General (PG) Maros Zilina and a representative of the European Public Prosecutor's Office to the committee session. It's demanding that they should explain how they plan to prevent certain cases from being "literally frozen". According to PS, EU funds shouldn't serve as a contribution towards living in a luxury hacienda for 'the selected ones'. The main task of the European Public Prosecutor's Office, which has been operating since June 2021, is to combat fraud involving EU funds. Slovakia is currently represented in the post of European Prosecutor by Juraj Novocky. PS leader Michal Simecka has called on the PG to make the proposal to amend the penal codes that he's sent to House Chair Richard Rasi (Voice-SD) accessible for all MPs. "If the governing majority doesn't act, Progressive Slovakia is ready to submit this bill to Parliament so that coalition MPs will clearly show whether they care about the state budget and the prosecution of tax offences," he stressed. PG Maros Zilinka has submitted a proposal to the house chair to amend the penal codes in connection with protecting society against tax fraud. He's proposed changes related to damages or proceeds from criminal activity and tightening up the conditions for criminal liability. ko/df