At the same time, auditors point to the weaker results of the consolidation measures. Of the planned €1.9 billion in additional revenue, approximately €1.5 billion was collected—just under 80% of the expected amount. The government fell short the most in the areas of the transaction tax and changes to corporate taxation. “The difference between expected and actual revenue was greatest for the transaction tax, where €168 million less was collected, and changes to corporate income tax brought nearly €100 million less into the budget than planned,” Andrassy stated.

According to the SAO, the functioning of the state apparatus itself remains a problem. Despite stated efforts to cut costs, the state’s personnel expenses increased by over €171 million year-on-year. The number of employees in central government agencies increased by 363, as did the number of staff in state-funded organizations.

General government expenditures also rose, reaching €28.5 billion. Almost half of the money spent on goods and services went towards services, with spending in this category increasing by almost 9% year-on-year. The largest item was specialized services, including external legal and attorney services, on which the government spent more than €364 million.

“When consolidating public finances, it is absolutely essential that those in charge focus on the expenditure side of the budget. The government must begin making significant cuts in the cost of running the state,” warned the SAO president. He also noted that it is state institutions that have generated the lion’s share of the total public debt.

The office also identified violations of budgetary rules in several major investment projects. As many as 16 major projects were not assessed in accordance with the law last year. This primarily concerned investments by the ministries of transportation, defense, and education. The common thread was the issuance of public procurement tenders without prior evaluation by the Ministry of Finance’s Value for Money Unit.

The picture is more positive when it comes to the absorption of European funds. In 2025, Slovakia achieved its third-best balance of revenue from EU funds since joining the EU. Progress was also made in meeting the milestones of the new 2021–2027 programming period, and the implementation of investments financed by the Recovery Plan continued, particularly in transportation and healthcare.

However, according to auditors, healthcare remains one of the riskiest areas of public finance. The sector continues to grapple with mounting debt, overspending on medications, and systemic problems. Last year, the budget for medicines was exceeded by nearly €70 million, despite the fact that expenditures from the public health insurance system rose by €155 million year-on-year to €1.72 billion.

Total healthcare liabilities increased by an additional €380 million, reaching €2.42 billion by the end of last year. Of this amount, state-run teaching and university hospitals alone accounted for nearly €1.4 billion in debt. According to the SAO, the proposed legislative changes could help ensure more efficient use of resources in public healthcare. “However, their real benefit will depend on consistent implementation and regular publication of performance reports, which are not yet available,” Andrassy noted.

Source: SITA