The European Commission's 2026 Rule of Law Report on Slovenia, published on 22 July 2026, assesses progress in the justice system, anti-corruption framework, media independence, and civil society, noting significant judicial reforms but limited results in high-level corruption cases and journalist protection.
The report highlights the new Judges Act of 21 November 2025, which transfers Supreme Court judge appointments from Parliament to the Judicial Council and allows judicial review of dismissal decisions. Amendments to the Judicial Council Act limit members to a non-renewable six-year term. The disciplinary framework for judges has been overhauled with a precise definition of offences and procedural changes, welcomed by the Judicial Council. Protection measures for judges and prosecutors are being strengthened, including psychological assistance introduced by the new Courts Act and State Prosecution Office Act amendments.
The new Courts Act merges District and Local Courts into 11 District Courts from 1 January 2027 to balance workload and improve efficiency, though the Judicial Council raised concerns about legal certainty. Digitalisation continues: electronic filing in all first-instance civil cases has been mandatory since 30 March 2026, the e-Sodstvo portal launched in July 2026, and electronic case allocation is mandated by January 2029. Salaries of judges and prosecutors increase gradually until January 2028, but the Judicial Council challenged the salary system before the Constitutional Court in January 2026.
On anti-corruption, the national strategy (2025-2030 Action Plan) is being implemented, but the Commission for the Prevention of Corruption reported attempts to undermine its credibility. The new Public Employees Act (July 2025) unifies conflict-of-interest rules for all public officials, and whistleblower protection status increased in 2025.
the media regulator is independent but faces resource constraints. The Slovenian Press Agency's financial challenges were addressed, but public broadcaster improvements are limited. The Ombudsperson handled many complaints, and the former Government adopted two framework strategies for civil society.
Judicial reforms strengthen the independence of the judiciary and improve efficiency, benefiting judges and citizens through faster proceedings. However, court mergers may create transitional legal uncertainty for litigants and lawyers. Anti-corruption measures enhance transparency for businesses and civil society, but limited high-level case outcomes undermine deterrence. Media funding gaps and independence issues affect journalists and public access to diverse information, with potential European Media Freedom Act oversight looming. The Commission will monitor implementation and may issue recommendations in subsequent reports.