European Commission Addresses Slovakia, Hungary, and the…

European Commission Addresses Slovakia, Hungary, and the Venice Biennale

12.07.2026 10:02 HotInfo

The European Commission in Brussels continues taking steps against several member states, including Slovakia and Hungary. It is currently pursuing four legal proceedings against Slovakia, while it has closed two older cases after the disputed measures ceased to apply. aktuality.sk ↗

The Commission closed the proceeding concerning discriminatory fuel prices for foreign drivers, since these rules have already been abolished. It also ended the proceeding related to changes in the protection of corruption whistleblowers, which it had opened in January over the government's plans to amend the relevant legislation. At the same time, it sent Slovakia a reasoned opinion for incorrect transposition of the 2019 directive on single-use plastics. novinky.cz ↗

Separately, Brussels is examining the situation surrounding the Agricultural Payment Agency following new suspicions regarding the allocation of agricultural subsidies. The Commission had already found earlier serious shortcomings in the agency's management and control system, which led to a financial correction of 28 million euros. idnes.cz ↗

In the same package of decisions, the European Commission sued Hungary before the Court of Justice of the European Union over restrictions on the margins of retail chains. Another new development is the approval of Hungary's request to join the European Public Prosecutor's Office, which Prime Minister Péter Magyar personally submitted at the end of May. hnonline.sk ↗

The Commission also called for an end to funding for the Venice Biennale over Russia's participation in the exhibition. According to available information, this concerns a grant of two million euros. Further developments will depend on the response of the states concerned, the decisions of the Court of Justice of the EU, and the actions of the exhibition's organizers. irozhlas.cz ↗