The European Commission is contemplating sanctions against Slovakia due to Prime Minister Robert Fico's actions perceived as undermining the rule of law, particularly the dissolution of a specialized anti-corruption prosecutor's office. This move could lead to the suspension of Slovakia's access to approximately €12.8 billion in EU cohesion funds and a review of the €2.7 billion in COVID-19 recovery grants that were conditional on maintaining anti-corruption measures. The EU's conditionality mechanism may be invoked if there's a risk of fund misuse or democratic principles being jeopardized. Slovakia is heavily reliant on EU funding, which constitutes around 80% of its public investment, thus any funding interruption could severely impact its economy, already facing a significant budget deficit. The process of imposing sanctions is still in its early stages and requires approval from Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who has yet to finalize her decision. As Fico's government has adopted a populist stance and taken measures against opposition, the EU's intervention highlights ongoing concerns over democratic integrity in member states.