Marissa Zupancic is JURIST’s Washington DC Correspondent, a JURIST Senior Editor and a 3L at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. She’s stationed in Washington during her Semester in DC. Georgetown University hosted a conference on Monday covering the 75th anniversary of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), a military alliance of more than 30 [...]
Search Results for: Slovakia
Sweden expels journalist from China for being a threat to national security
Sweden expelled a Chinese journalist on Monday due to concerns over national security, as reported by Swedish media. The name of the Chinese journalist remains undisclosed. However, it is known that she is 57 years old, has lived in Sweden for nearly two decades, has family in the country, and has been under police custody [...]
European Commission expresses regret over dissolution of Slovakia Special Prosecutor's Office
A European Commission spokesman expressed regret to Reuters on Thursday over Slovakia dissolving its Special Prosecutor’s Office without safeguards to ensure the continuity of effective investigations in the country. The spokesman said that the dissolution of the office would potentially undermine the effectiveness of investigations. The office was officially dissolved on March 20 after its dissolution [...]
Civil liberties network report highlights decline of rule of law in EU
The Civil Liberties Union for Europe (Liberties) published its Liberties Rule of Law Report 2024 on Monday, in which the organization raised concerns about the declining state of the rule of law and weakening democratic checks and balances across the EU. Liberties, headquartered in Berlin, is a non-governmental organization (NGO) that promotes civil liberties for [...]
Protests break out in Slovakia as government proposes overhaul of state media
Thousands of people protested in Slovakia on Friday against a plan by the government to dissolve state-funded media organization Radio and Television of Slovakia (RTVS) in favor of a plan opponents allege is part of increasing totalitarian and Russian influence in the government. The new proposal would create Slovak Television and Radio (STaR) and would [...]
Slovakia parliament approves criminal law reform amid public protests and EU concerns
The Slovak parliament approved reforms calling for the eradication of a special prosecution branch dealing with high-level crimes in the country, as well as the lowering of punishments for financial crimes. The approval of the package of laws took place in a fast-track procedure before parliament, despite nationwide protests and statements of concern by the [...]
Thousands protest in Slovakia over proposed criminal law reforms
Thousands of protesters gathered in front of Slovakia’s Parliament, as well as almost 30 other Slovak cities, on Wednesday and Thursday to voice opposition to the passage of criminal reforms. Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico first announced the criminal reforms in December 2023. They passed through Parliament on Thursday via a fast-track procedure. The reforms will [...]
Slovakia Parliament fast-tracks vote on proposed criminal law reforms
Slovakia’s Parliament announced on Thursday that it will adopt a fast-track legislative process to vote on Prime Minister Robert Fico’s proposal to reform Slovakia’s criminal law and dissolve the Special Prosecutor’s Office. This comes after lawmakers approved the fast-track procedure, which expedites the voting process on Fico’s proposal. The reforms were introduced by Fico in [...]
Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová urged lawmakers on Thursday to reconsider Prime Minister Robert Fico’s proposal to reform Slovakia’s criminal law and dissolve the Special Prosecutor’s Office. She warned that Fico’s proposed legislative changes may violate the country’s legislative process, constitution and principles of the rule of law. Fico introduced the reforms in December as a [...]
European Parliament concerned over Slovakia proposed legislative reforms
The European Parliament adopted a resolution on Wednesday, expressing concerns over Slovakia’s proposed criminal code reforms and the dissolution of the Special Prosecutor’s Office. The European Parliament is worried the moves potentially endanger the rule of law in Slovakia. Slovakia Prime Minister Robert Fico introduced reforms in December. The reforms relaxed penalties for corruption and [...]