Bratislava – The current government has turned Slovakia into a paradise for tax fraudsters and a center for customs and value-added tax (VAT) fraud within the European Union (EU). This is evidenced by the findings of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), which were highlighted by the chief European prosecutor Laura Kövesi during her visit to Slovakia on Tuesday (November 11), as reported by TASR.
The vice-chairman of the opposition SaS Marián Viskupič pointed out that Slovaks learned from Kövesi that Slovakia has become a transit point for money laundering. He added that Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) is turning the country into a laundering machine for European money. “Every third case that the European Public Prosecutor’s Office is investigating in the area of VAT fraud is linked to Slovakia. It is outrageous that the chief European prosecutor has to come to Slovakia to inform that large-scale tax fraud is happening here,” Viskupič stated.
According to him, the worst part is that the Financial Administration (FS) either does not know about these problems or does not want to know, raising the question of whether the Financial Administration is directly protecting and assisting tax fraudsters.
EPPO is investigating frauds related to Slovakia amounting to 900 million euros
In the cases that the EPPO is investigating in connection with Slovakia, the estimated damages amount to 900 million euros, with approximately half a billion euros directly related to VAT fraud. Viskupič pointed out that if the state were to recover this money into the budget, the government would not have to introduce a transaction tax, nor would it need to increase health contributions, VAT on salty and sweet foods, or raise insurance taxes.
The chairman of the opposition PS Michal Šimečka stated that the figures presented by the EPPO are alarming. “Slovakia is not such a large country within the EU, and when a Slovak company is involved in one-third of all investigated frauds, it is truly pathetic and it is an indictment of 15 years of Robert Fico’s governments. This government and this governing majority are also to blame, because, as the European Public Prosecutor’s Office states, the pro-mafia amendment to the Criminal Code has clearly contributed to this,” he declared.
According to him, a solution could be to simplify the tax system, if possible, reduce direct taxes, and at the same time restore criminal liability for tax evasion.
The statements of the chief European prosecutor are, according to opposition MP Veronika Remišová (Hnutie Slovensko – Za ľudí), further confirmation of the collapse of justice in Slovakia. “She claims that Slovakia has become one of the main centers for VAT fraud in the EU, and up to a third of the cases being investigated in connection with VAT and customs frauds are linked to Slovakia. Our country has become the main transit point for the flow of money from criminal activities. This is caused by nothing other than the dismantling of elite police and prosecution units that have fought against fraud and organized crime in Slovakia for years, and the insane amendment to the Criminal Code, whose sole purpose was to protect criminal interests,” Remišová stated.
The Minister of Justice Boris Susko (Smer-SD) met on Tuesday with a delegation from the EPPO led by chief European prosecutor Laura Kövesi. He emphasized that one of the government’s goals is a systematic fight against tax fraud and criminal activities related to VAT, also in cooperation with European institutions. (November 12)
