A group of six MEPs from the European People's Party and Renew Europe has asked the European Commission whether it is aware of a recent amendment to Slovakia's Act No 280/2017 on agricultural subsidies, warning that the change could allow EU funds to flow to entities under criminal investigation or even finally convicted of fraud. The written question, submitted on 17 April 2026, targets a legislative framework that, according to the MEPs, does not automatically exclude applicants with criminal records from receiving EU subsidies, limiting suspension only to a narrow set of offences and reportedly excluding serious crimes such as fraud.
The MEPs – Tomáš Zdechovský (PPE), Miriam Lexmann (PPE), Ľubica Karvašová (Renew), Veronika Cifrová Ostrihoňová (Renew), Lucia Yar (Renew), and Michal Wiezik (Renew) – cite a report by the Slovak anti-corruption NGO Zastavme korupciu, which alleges that the amendment benefits projects linked to fraud. The question specifically asks the Commission to assess the amendment's compatibility with EU rules on sound financial management and fraud prevention, and to outline steps it will take if EU funds risk being disbursed to fraudulent entities.
Concrete asks and policy direction The question contains three concrete requests: confirmation of Commission awareness and monitoring, a legal compatibility assessment, and a statement of intended remedial action. The MEPs' direction is clearly toward tightening eligibility criteria to exclude convicted or charged individuals, reflecting a pro-integrity stance that prioritises protecting EU financial interests over national discretion in subsidy allocation. The amendment itself appears to loosen existing safeguards, creating a cleavage between EU-level fraud prevention standards and national legislative choices that may prioritise administrative simplicity or political considerations.
Expected follow-up The Commission is required to reply within approximately six weeks. Its answer will signal whether it views the Slovak amendment as a breach of EU law and whether it plans to launch infringement proceedings or withhold funds. Given the Commission's track record on protecting the EU budget, a critical response is likely, but the outcome will depend on the precise wording of the amendment and its implementation.
Stakeholders impacted - EU taxpayers: risk of funds being misused for fraudulent activities, undermining trust in EU spending. - Slovak agricultural sector: legitimate farmers may face reputational damage and reduced EU funding if irregularities persist. - Slovak authorities: could face infringement proceedings or financial corrections if the Commission deems the framework non-compliant. - Fraud-accused entities: benefit from continued access to subsidies, potentially at the expense of honest applicants.
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