PES asks EU to intervene in Government/Police dispute in Slovakia  

The European Union needs to intervene in a growing dispute between the Slovakian  Government and the Police force say PES President Poul Nyrup Rasmussen and Slovakian MEPs Monika Benova, Milos Koterec and Vladimir Manka.

The PES politicians aim to put oral questions to the European Commission next week in the European Parliament and will pursue the matter until the Slovakian Government reconsider its actions and respect the fundamental values of the EU.  

In two recent backward steps for Slovakian democracy, the Government decided in the summer to place the police under the jurisdiction of military rather than civilian courts, and then in the autumn completely overreacted to a police demonstration demanding better wages. Among the actions taken by the Government, according to information received from the European Confederation of Police (Eurocop), were to demote the President of the Police Union, derecognize the Police Union as a negotiating partner and threaten disciplinary action against any police officer who takes part in any further protests.

A further protest is planned on December 3 with the support of Eurocop.

“We have been asked by the European Confederation of Police to raise this matter with the European institutions as they believe it is against EU law and contrary to the spirit of democratic policing” said PES President, Poul Nyrup Rasmussen. “Police officers should have the same civil rights as any other worker or citizen.”

“So much has been done to achieve democracy, rights and freedom in Slovakia it is all the more disappointing that any authoritarian manner is displayed” said Milos Koterec MEP. “We are pursuing this matter with the EU to make the Government reconsider its actions.”       

Eurocop believe the actions are a restriction of the rights of police officers under the European Convention of Human Rights, contrary to the goal of establishing a common area for freedom, security and justice in the EU and not in line with the Council of Europe’s Code of Police Ethics.