The Office for the Protection of Whistleblowers (ÚOO) perceives the postponement of negotiations on the sixth payment from the recovery plan as a serious consequence of legislative efforts to interfere with the existence and independence of the office. TASR informed the office about it.
“We warned publicly and officially about the possible risks associated with the abolition of the office last year during the legislative process. We pointed out that a functional and independent office is part of the obligations of the Slovak Republic towards the European Union and that its abolition may lead to questioning the fulfillment of the milestones of the recovery plan. Today’s situation confirms that these concerns were justified.” stated ÚOO.
According to him, this step showed that the protection of whistleblowers and the independent institution associated with it is not just a formal condition “on paper”, but a key tool in the fight against corruption and misuse of public funds, including European funds. “The weakening of this system sends a signal that may have long-term consequences for Slovakia’s reputation within the EU,” added the office.
ÚOO declared that will continue to fulfill its legal tasks and is ready to provide professional cooperation in the search for a solutionwhich will ensure the protection of whistleblowers in accordance with European standards and at the same time protect the financial interests of the European Union and the Slovak Republic.
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic for the Recovery Plan and the Knowledge Economy (ÚPPV) announced on Thursday that the approval of the last formal step in the payment of the sixth payment request for the Slovak Republic in the amount of EUR 590 million they have not yet been included in the deliberations of the EU comitology committee. The reason is supposed to be changes regarding the ÚOOwhose operationalization was financed from the resources of the recovery plan.
According to the ÚPVV, the European Commission (EC) will wait for the decision of the Constitutional Court of the Slovak Republic in connection with the ÚOO. At the same time, the ÚOO started intensive negotiations with the EC in order to clarify open questions and ensure the continuation of the process of paying the sixth payment request.
The ÚOO in its original form was supposed to disappear from January 1, 2026, but after the decision of the Constitutional Court of the Slovak Republic, which suspended the effectiveness of this law in December 2025, it continues to function without changes for the time being. The Constitutional Court accepted the proposal of a group of opposition members of the National Council of the Slovak Republic for further proceedings in its entirety. In January, the EC sent Slovakia a formal notice of possible non-fulfillment of obligations in connection with the ÚOO and requested additional information and an explanation.
Legislation approved by parliament in December was supposed to transform ÚOO into a new Office for the Protection of Victims of Crime and Whistleblowers of Anti-Social Activities. In addition to the agenda of whistleblowers, he was also to deal with the agenda of compensating victims of crimes, which he was to take over from the Ministry of Justice. The law also deals with the review of protection in both criminal and administrative proceedings.
