Brussels/Strasbourg – On Tuesday, January 20, Members of the European Parliament (EP) approved a series of recommendations to be included in the European Commission’s proposal for a new legal framework aimed at supporting innovative companies within the European Union, referred to as the 28th legal regime. Some Slovak MEPs also shared their views on this initiative with TASR.
Ľudovít Ódor (PS), serving as the EP rapporteur for tax matters related to the 28th legal regime, emphasized that this proposal marks a significant advancement. “Over the past 50 years, no startup in the Union has thrived to become a major global technology company. Dominating digital markets requires nearly everything. They operate under a single market, while Europe navigates 27 different sets of rules. Harmonizing regulations across 27 countries could take decades, if it’s feasible at all. To compete globally with the USA and China, we must adopt a different approach,” he articulated.
Branislav Ondruš (Hlas-SD) expressed his support for fostering favorable conditions for European tech startups but raised concerns that the 28th legal regime might undermine the sovereignty of member states regarding critical legal matters. “I cannot agree that our Labour Code should not apply to companies operating in Slovakia or that our Labour Inspectorate should be unable to inspect any company. It is unacceptable for a so-called special EU legal regime to let companies in Slovakia bypass our legal protections for workers against exploitation. Our workers already struggle to enforce their rights,” Ondruš stated.
He noted that last year he opposed measures in the EP aimed at strengthening the rights of Slovak employees in multinational firms, only to see some companies relieved of responsibilities to their workers. “I have consistently rejected the idea of enhancing our companies’ competitiveness at the expense of employees and their families, and I cannot endorse the spread of exploitative practices in Europe reminiscent of those in the USA. I expect the European Commission to take the European Parliament’s feedback seriously, or it will encounter significant opposition from MEPs who prioritize workers over corporations,” he cautioned.
EP Vice-President Martin Hojsík (PS) praised the EP’s recommendations as a positive step forward. “We are finally making progress in this area. I have long advocated for improved conditions for European startups in the European Parliament, and this is an important advancement. If implemented successfully, it will facilitate access to investments for startups, enhance their operations across Europe, and help retain many of them in Slovakia and the EU,” he elaborated. (January 22)
“In the EU, in the last 50 years, no startup has emerged that would stay here and grow into a truly large global technology company. Winning digital markets take almost everything. They have a single market, while Europe is still playing by 27 rules on 27 playing fields.” Ľudovít Ódor
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