Saplinq receives delayed EU youth grant after European Commission pressure on Slovak ministry

The European Commission warned Slovakia it could suspend youth‑grant funding over the activities of Saplinq, a queer non‑governmental organization based in Košice. The Commission cited concerns that the NGO’s programmes, including drag‑show workshops for minors, might breach EU anti‑discrimination rules and gave the Slovak authorities a week to resolve the issue.

Slovakia’s National Institute of Education and Youth (NIVaM) had held back more than €120,000 of an Erasmus+ grant for Saplinq for over a year, despite a contract that required payment within 30 days. After the Commission sent two formal notices urging immediate action, the ministry released the first portion of the grant in early April, ending a 446‑day delay. Saplinq, which previously received around €600,000 in 2023 and runs events such as Pride Košice, said the payment arrived on a Friday afternoon. The remainder of the grant has not yet been scheduled for disbursement.