According to the source, the European Commission (EC) is preparing to initiate judicial proceedings in response to the decision of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico to abolish the special prosecutor’s office in charge of investigating corruption.

Based on the publication, the process is at an early stage and will require the approval of EC President Ursula von der Leyen.

Slovakia may become the second EU member state, after Hungary, to face these types of sanctions.

In the opinion of the portal, the EC is considering two proposals: the first option involves freezing part of nearly 13 million Euros of cohesion funds that Slovakia will receive, which will allow the EC to withhold funds if it believes that the rule of law or financial interests of the EU are at risk. Under the second proposal, the country may lose up to €2.7 billion allocated for the implementation of Slovakia’s recovery and resilience plan.

Experts estimate that around 80 percent of Slovakia’s public investments are backed by EU funds, so any reduction in funding would have a serious impact on the country’s economy, which is already suffering from a high public deficit.

Fico faces fresh criticism from EU institutions, including a review of public broadcaster RTVS, an NGO bill introducing the label of foreign-supported organizations and the dismantling of the national crime agency.

It should also be remembered that previously, Slovakia and Hungary opposed the allocation of an aid package to Ukraine worth 50 billion Euros.

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