Slovakia’s government has approved a draft law setting out a new framework for household energy subsidies, but critics warn it risks creating the country’s largest ever database of citizens’ personal and financial information.
The legislation, passed on September 17, leaves open key questions about who will qualify for support. Economy Minister Denisa Sakova of Hlas said the cabinet would decide “in the coming weeks” on detailed eligibility rules, which will determine who receives help and how much. She repeated that about 90% of households would be covered, raising doubts about how “targeted” the system really was.
Two options are on the table: subsidies delivered through vouchers, dubbed “energo-cheques”, or capped bills, with the state compensating suppliers directly. Either way, costs are expected to climb towards EUR 500 million, with the government banking on unspent EU funds to pay for the scheme.
Central to the plan is a new information system that will compile data from a wide range of state institutions, including tax authorities, health insurers and the social security agency. The register will track consumption at individual supply points, alongside household income and property details.
Opposition MP Jan Hargas of Progressive Slovakia warned the ministry was becoming a “huge data hub”.
“No one in the state has ever had this many details – others only hold partial information. This will be the biggest database on Slovak citizens’ incomes and assets,” he said.
An earlier law had allowed people to refuse data collection, but the new proposal removes that option. Hargas argued that the situation was “the same as when the first law was introduced”, only this time without any opt-out. Existing data gathered under the old framework must be deleted until April 2026.
Sakova has promised strict protections.
“The system will be operated in the cloud, with the highest security measures,” she said, adding that records would be deleted automatically once processed, with audit trailed in place.
Access will be limited to designated officials at the Economy Ministry and local offices.
Under the new model, support will be calculated per household, based on the combined income of all residents at a given supply point. A coefficient will determine the so-called “bonity”, or ability to pay, though thresholds will be set later by government decree.
Bratislava is also relying on EU funds to cover administrative costs, including new staff at district offices. Prime Minister Robert Fico has previously linked access to these funds to his government’s decision not to block EU sanctions on Russia – a trade-off agreed with the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen.
With further sanctions under discussion in Brussels, Slovakia’s stance could once again prove pivotal. (The Slovak Spectator)