Head of the Democracy, Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights Monitoring Group (DRFMG) Sophie Wilmès during a press conference of the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs delegation, held in Bratislava on 3 June 2025. (source: TASR - Martin Baumann)
It is too early to say whether Slovakia is becoming the next Hungary, but there are numerous signs it is heading in a similar direction, according to Belgian MEP and mission head Sophie Wilmès, following a two-day fact-finding visit by the European Parliament’s monitoring group for democracy and the rule of law. She noted, however, that the Slovak government’s approach appeared more constructive.
The four-member delegation from the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) arrived in Bratislava just a week after another group of MEPs investigated the use – and potential misuse – of EU funds.
The mission became the target of fierce attacks by members of the Slovak government. Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok described the visit as a “punitive expedition”, while Prime Minister Robert Fico labelled Czech MEP Tomáš Zdechovský, who led the previous delegation, a “political hitman for hire” allegedly commissioned by the opposition and anti-government media.
In contrast, the most recent delegation, headed by former Belgian Prime Minister Wilmès (Renew Europe) and LIBE chair Javier Zarzalejos (European People’s Party), was received more willingly by government officials.
