17/07/2025 (Agence Europe) – On Thursday, 17 July, the European Commission decided to bring Slovakia before the Court of Justice of the European Union for incorrectly transposing the directive (2013/48) on the right of access to a lawyer and the right to communicate upon arrest—a directive that has been applicable since November 2016. After analysing the Slovak authorities’ responses, the EU institution concluded that in Slovakia, the situation of suspects who have not yet been formally charged continues to give cause for concern. In particular, the European Commission finds that it is difficult to know what rights these suspects can claim and under what circumstances they can discuss their situation with a lawyer before being questioned. Previously, the European Commission took Bulgaria to court in May for the same reason (see EUROPE 13635/24) and did the same with Belgium and Luxembourg in March 2024 (see EUROPE 13345/36). (MB)