Tag Archives: European Union

At a press conference on Tuesday, the opposition Slovakia Movement presented a series of findings that, according to its representatives, point to the systemic misuse of European money intended to help Roma communities. Representatives of the movement pointed out suspicious subsidies, conflicts of interest, personal connections and a commission mechanism in projects in Roma settlements.

They are calling for the dismissal of the Slovak Government Plenipotentiary for Roma Communities, Alexander Dašek, from his position. The Office of the Government Plenipotentiary for Roma Communities (ÚSVRK) rejects the movement’s claims. It called them purposeful disinformation.

• Matovičovci hovoria o zneužívaní peňazí na podporu Rómov, úrad splnomocnenca to odmieta. In: HN Online. 14.04.2026. https://hnonline.sk/slovensko/96275682-matovicovci-hovoria-o-zneuzivani-penazi-na-podporu-romov-urad-splnomocnenca-to-odmieta

Czech MEP Tomáš Zdechovský presented a critical report on the rule of law and the use of EU funds in Slovakia. Improved controls and protection of civil society are required. The report considers the weakening of the rule of law as a key finding, as the abolition of the Special Prosecutor’s Office and the National Criminal Agency led to a dramatic drop in the number of indictments for serious economic crimes (in 2025, only two were filed, compared to the previous 120-150 per year).

The report also criticizes the hostile environment towards civil society and the media, as non-governmental organizations face administrative harassment, discredit campaigns, blocking of access to information, and investigative journalists report intimidation when verifying facts about the misuse of EU funds, for example for the construction of EU-funded pensions.

The MP also mentioned the inefficient financing of Roma projects, when there were cases where community representatives were excluded from planning, and projects such as the “Roma Media House” did not meet the needs in the areas of housing, work or education.

• Český europoslanec Tomáš Zdechovský odprezentoval záverečnú správu z kontrolnej misie na Slovensku. In: Aktuality. 15.07.2025. https://www.aktuality.sk/clanok/SP9MFd1/cesky-europoslanec-tomas-zdechovsky-odprezentoval-zaverecnu-spravu-z-kontrolnej-misie-na-slovensku/

Instead of solving the sewage or water supply problems in Roma settlements where people live in clay houses, a completely meaningless Roma media house will be built for 60 million. This cannot be overlooked, says Tomáš Zdechovský, who heads the European Parliament’s audit in Slovakia, in an interview with Aktuality.sk.

What a waste …

• Vedie kontrolu europarlamentu: Nemám žiadny dôvod Slovensko trestať. Matúš Šutaj Eštok nech si nechá konšpiračné teórie. In: Aktuality. 27.05.2025. https://www.aktuality.sk/clanok/zVjHzPu/vedie-kontrolu-europarlamentu-nemam-ziadny-dovod-slovensko-trestat-matus-sutaj-estok-nech-si-necha-konspiracne-teorie/

The EU control commission, which is currently examining the use of EU funds in Slovakia, will also meet with the Roma MEP from the Slovakia movement, Peter Pollák. “MEPs will rightly ask why European taxpayers’ money should be spent on media houses, tree planting or other ‘soft’ projects, while people in settlements live without water, sewage and basic infrastructure. We have something to talk about,” he said. According to Pollák, hundreds of millions of euros are spent on analyses, strategic documents and training, but practically nothing has changed in Roma settlements over the years. He claims that people continue to live in inhumane conditions despite the fact that we have historically received the most money from the European Union to improve their lives – more than a billion euros.

• S kontrolnou komisiou, ktorá v týchto dňoch preveruje využívanie eurofondov na Slovensku, sa stretne aj rómsky poslanec hnutia Slovensko Peter Pollák. In: Postoj. 27.05.2025. https://www.postoj.sk/176127/dnes-treba-vediet

Slovak opposition Vladimír Ledecký (SaS) calls for reconsideration and revision of the action plans for the Strategy for Equality, Inclusion and Participation of the Roma until 2030 for the years 2025-2027, which were approved by the government in December 2024. As a Member of the National Council (NR) of the Slovak Republic, he submitted a resolution in which he warns that, based on the action plan, millions of euros are to be spent on “meaningless projects whose real contribution to improving the living and economic situation of the Roma is zero”.

• Vláda sa chystá rozhajdákať miliardu eur pod zásterkou pomoci Rómom, kritizuje Ledecký – VIDEO. In: Sita. 11.04.2025. https://sita.sk/vlada-sa-chysta-rozhajdakat-miliardu-eur-pod-zasterkou-pomoci-romom-kritizuje-ledecky-video/
• SaS vyzýva prehodnotiť akčný plán k Rómom. In: Teraz. 11.04.2025. https://www.teraz.sk/slovensko/sas-vyzyva-prehodnotit-akcny-plan-k/870621-clanok.html