
Summary
- MEPs representing Slovakia haven’t had a defining role in EU crypto policy development but have been active on ancillary issues, such as establishing an EU single digital gateway.
- Similarly, Slovenian MEPs typically support research into the EU’s digital asset landscape rather than work on developing high-level crypto policy directly.
Slovakia works on specific digital issues rather than EU crypto policy development
Slovakia currently has 14 MEPs but will gain an additional seat in June’s polls, bringing its EP cohort to 15. Slovak MEPs are spread pretty evenly throughout the political spectrum, with four MEPs in the EPP group; four in the Renew group and four non-attached. There is only one S&D Slovak MEP, since the SMER and HLAS parties were suspended from the S&D group at the end of 2023. This came in response to the formation of a coalition government in Slovakia with the far-right Slovak National Party SNS.
None of the Slovakian MEPs has played a direct, leading role in the development of crypto policy in the outgoing EP. Eugen Jurzyca (ECR) is the only Slovak representative on the Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) committee, where he is a substitute member. He was rapporteur on the 2020 EU legislation on crowdfunding and more recently has been active on digital and payments files, acting as his group’s shadow on PSD and PSR as well as IMCO files such as late payments, product liability and single digital gateway.
Ivan Štefanec (EPP) played a role as shadow rapporteur for the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) on establishing the digital decade Policy Programme 2030. He was also shadow for the Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) for a December 2023 own-initiative (i.e. non-legislative) report on the addictive design of online services and consumer protection in the EU single market.
The latest polls suggest that despite the suspension of SMER and HLAS from the S&D group, both parties remain popular, currently polling first (23%) and third (16%) respectively. The Renew-affiliated Progressive Slovakia is running second (20%), suggesting the EPP might lose one or more of its seats in June.
Slovenian MEPs support research into EU digital asset landscape
Slovenia has eight MEPs, all of whom sit in the traditional center parties (four for the EPP; two each in S&D and Renew). Slovenia will gain an additional seat in June, seeing Slovenes elect nine representatives in total in the upcoming election.
Perhaps unsurprisingly for a small country, Slovenia does not have any MEPs on the ECON committee. Even so, a couple of Slovene MEPs have made contributions to the contextual landscape in which digital assets operate.
Franc Bogovič (EPP) penned the 2022 report ‘A long-term vision for the EU’s rural areas.’ It highlighted substantial gaps in broadband connectivity and digital skills in rural areas, and included statistics from Eurostat regarding levels of internet access in the EU. Improvements would undoubtedly have a positive knock-on effect in terms of citizens’ ability to access digital services, including digital assets.
Cybersecurity is another essential part of protecting citizens when it comes to accessing digital services and digital companies. Slovene MEP Klemen Grošelj (Renew) saw the EP adopt his non-binding foreign affairs committee (AFET) report in early 2024 on ‘Security and defence implications of China’s influence on critical infrastructure in the European Union’.
In terms of the polls, the EPP-affiliated Slovenian Democratic Party looks likely to retain top spot, with 36% of voting intentions. Renew-affiliated Freedom Movement is expected to come in second with approximately 24%, while the S&D-affiliated Social Democrats may lose a seat unless it improves on its current 9%. New Slovenia – another EPP-affiliated party is also polling at 9%, suggesting, unlike many other central and eastern Member States, there will not be a breakthrough of the further-to-the-right parties in Slovenia.