Bratislava/Brussels – The European Commission (EC) is contemplating an infringement action against Slovakia regarding the amendment to the Constitution of the Slovak Republic. This was disclosed by Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) during a press conference in Poprad on Friday, where he received this information earlier that morning. The amendment pertains to a constitutional article asserting that in matters of values and ethics, national law should take precedence over European Union (EU) law, as reported by TASR.
“We welcome this conflict. I cannot fathom that an international organization should dictate how many genders exist or who can marry whom. This is solely a domestic issue, deeply tied to our national identity,” stated Robert Fico.
European Commission spokesperson Markus Lammert expressed that he is unaware of any ongoing infringement proceedings against Slovakia relating to the constitutional amendment. He made this announcement during a press conference in Brussels on Friday. “We would not announce infringement proceedings outside the established process, so I cannot comment further,” the EC spokesperson said. He noted that the Commission has communicated its stance on the recent constitutional amendment to Slovak authorities and is currently engaged in discussions with them.
The Prime Minister affirmed his belief that the foundational treaties governing the EU permit member states to prioritize national law over EU regulations concerning national identity.
“I understand that our firm constitutional stance may cause concern among some member states. We believe it is essential to clearly outline in the constitution where our law takes precedence over EU law,” Fico remarked. He warned that failing to protect national identity and traditions could lead to the “international community consuming us,” rendering Slovakia insignificant.
“We will have the opportunity to clarify to both the Slovak public and the international community the intentions behind this significant constitutional provision,” the Prime Minister added.
The amendment to the Constitution of the Slovak Republic, effective November 1, asserts that Slovakia recognizes only the biologically determined genders of male and female. It also guarantees equality between genders in terms of remuneration for work performed, addresses child adoption, and outlines aspects of the educational process. This amendment aims to enhance Slovakia’s sovereignty in cultural and ethical matters. The parliament approved the amendment on September 26. (November 6)
“We believe that it should be clearly written in the constitution where our law will apply and where EU law will apply.” Robert Fico
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