The European Commission announced on Thursday that it is initiating several legal proceedings against Slovakia for failing to comply with EU laws.
In the justice sector, Slovakia has been referred to the Court of Justice of the European Union over incorrect implementation of the directive on the right of access to a lawyer and communication upon detention. The Commission expressed concerns about unclear rights for suspects not yet formally charged, particularly regarding their access to legal counsel before interrogation.
Slovakia also faces formal notices in environmental, energy, and taxation matters. In the environmental field, Slovakia has failed to update its National Air Pollution Control Programme, a requirement under a 2016 directive aimed at reducing emissions of harmful air pollutants.
In energy and climate, Slovakia was formally notified for not designating authorities responsible for monitoring and enforcing the 2024 EU methane regulation, which targets methane emissions in fossil fuel sectors.
Additionally, in taxation, Slovakia received a formal notice for failing to transmit customs data in the required digital format, jeopardising the effectiveness of EU customs operations.
The Commission has given Slovakia two months to respond and correct these shortcomings. If the issues are not satisfactorily addressed, further legal steps, including reasoned opinions and potential lawsuits, will follow.
Source: TASR, Euractiv
