The European Parliament has approved a 15 million euros cut to the financial aid reserved for Slovakia in 2002.
Parliament decided October 25 that the funds would be kept in reserve in a special European Commission (EC) fund. However, the money could be released if the EC's December report on Slovakia's anti-corruption campaign is positive.
Some domestic politicians have said they believe the funding cuts are designed to stir the government to action on a corruption scandal involving EU taxpayer money earlier this year. A report in the case from an anti-corruption watchdog was published October 30.