Slovenia - Strengthening of the institutional and administrative capacities

Short-term priorities:

• adoption of a Civil Service Law;
• improvements in the judiciary, land registration, and phytosanitary and veterinary administrations, particularly as regards facilities at external borders;
• improvements in financial control and audit functions;
• reinforcement of institutions in the environmental field;
• establishment of the institutions needed for regional and structural policy.

Assessment (October 1999)

These priorities have been realised only in part.

The introduction of a Civil Service Law has again been postponed. There have been some improvements in the judiciary (new judges have been nominated, vacancies have been filled and training courses have been organised). The new Criminal Code and the new Penal Proceedings Law have been adopted by the European Parliament. The Law on Civil Procedure has also been adopted. However, there has still been no tangible improvement in land registration.

As regards the phytosanitary and veterinary administrations, the Slovenian Government has decided to co-finance inspection facilities for the three border posts with Croatia (Obrezje, Gruskoje and Jelšane). Veterinary and phytosanitary staff numbers have been increased and training has been provided.

Improvements have been made in the financial control and audit sectors, but the Court of Auditors is still understaffed.

Efforts have been made to increase staff numbers in the environmental field. Thirteen new inspectors have been recruited by the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning.

New institutions needed to implement regional and structural policy have been established by the new Law on Balanced Regional Development, which was adopted in July 1999.

Assessment (November 2000)

Little progress has been made with public administration reform. The Civil Service Law has not been adopted. No legislative framework has been drawn up for internal and external financial control. Work has started on setting up a unified cadastral system.

Assessment (November 2001)

Civil service reform is progressing, but the Act has still not been adopted. The rural development plan has been adopted, as has a national preliminary plan. Some measures have been taken to set up the management framework for the Ispa and Sapard programmes. The Sapard agency has been accredited. The legislative framework for internal and external financial control has been set up. A unified land registration system is being developed.

Assessment (October 2002)

These priorities have not been assessed. The section on the Partnership for accession in the 2002 report focuses on issues which require more work in order to prepare Slovenia for accession.

Assessment (November 2003)

Please refer to the fact sheets on the adoption of the Community acquis.

Medium-term priorities:

• public procurement;
• supervision of the insurance and securities market;
• reinforcement of the Slovenian Competition Office;
• completion of the law on competition;
• development and implementation of agricultural and regional policies;
• customs administration and enforcement of the customs code;
• improved operation of the judicial system;
• reinforcement of justice and home affairs institutions (ensuring sufficient numbers of properly trained personnel);
• reinforcement of the food control administration.

Assessment (October 1999)

Slovenia has adopted the Law on Monitoring the Award of Public Contracts, despite the National Council's veto. The Securities Market Law has also been passed. The customs and tax administrations are being reorganised following the adoption of VAT and excise duty legislation. A training centre to enhance expertise in Community law has been set up for the judiciary.

Assessment (November 2000)

Measures have been introduced to improve the operation of the judicial system. Training in Community law is being provided in the judicial training centre. Strengthening of public financial control functions has started. The statistical capacities are being gradually strengthened.

Assessment (November 2001)

The judicial system continues to be improved. The Civil Service Act still has yet to be adopted. Competence for controlling public finances and in the statistical field has been strengthened.

Assessment (October 2002)

These priorities have not been assessed.

Assessment (November 2003)

Please refer to the fact sheets on the adoption of the Community acquis.

Following the signing of the Accession Treaty on 16 April 2003, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia acceded to the European Union on 1 May 2004.

REFERENCES

Council Decision 98/268/EC of 30.03.1998Official Journal L 121, 23.04.1998

Council Decision 1999/859/EC of 06.12.1999Official Journal L 335, 28.12.1999

Commission Opinion COM(97)2010 finalNot published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(98)709 finalNot published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(1999)512 finalNot published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(2000)712 finalNot published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(2001) 700 final - SEC (2001) 1755Not published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(2002) 700 final - SEC (2002) 1411Not published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(2003) 675 final - SEC(2003) 1208Not published in the Official Journal

Treaty of Accession to the European Union [Official Journal L 236, 23.09.2003]

Last updated: 19.11.2004