BRATISLAVA, March 19, 2026 — Slovakia’s competition authority and supreme audit institution have warned of increasing pressure on independent public bodies, cautioning that such developments could undermine their ability to enforce rules and safeguard fair competition.
The heads of the Supreme Audit Office of the Slovak Republic and the Antimonopoly Office of the Slovak Republic said in a joint statement that attacks on institutional independence risk weakening public trust in the rule of law and democratic governance.
Officials from both bodies reported experiencing growing pressure in carrying out their oversight and enforcement functions, without sufficient institutional support.
PMÚ chair Juraj Beňa stressed that well-functioning markets depend on strong and independent institutions, particularly in areas such as competition enforcement and state aid control. He added that ensuring adequate resources and safeguards for such authorities should be a priority for the state.
The two institutions called on national authorities, including the president, to take steps to protect and reinforce the independence of public bodies acting in the public interest.
They also agreed to strengthen cooperation going forward, including closer coordination on issues such as the assessment of state aid and potential restrictions on competition.
The warning comes amid broader concerns in the region about maintaining the autonomy and effectiveness of regulatory and oversight institutions.
