Brussels calls on Slovenia to complete reforms in public media funding

Strasbourg/Ljubljana – The European Commission has called on Slovenia in its annual report on the rule of law to complete reforms in the area of public media funding. Further measures are deemed necessary by Brussels in the areas of journalist protection and the prosecution of corruption.

The Commission notes that Slovenia has made some progress in the appropriate funding of Radio-Television Slovenia (RTVS) and the Slovenian Press Agency (STA) since the last report published at the end of July last year, but some challenges remain. Therefore, further measures will be necessary.

Among this year’s recommendations to Slovenia in the media sector is also the need for further progress in adopting legislative and non-legislative safeguards for the protection of journalists.

In the area of combating corruption, Brussels is urging the Slovenian authorities to take additional measures to improve the prosecution of corruption cases, including at the highest level.

However, Slovenia has fully met last year’s recommendations regarding parliamentary inquiries and increasing judges’ salaries.

According to the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Affairs, the report confirms that Slovenia has made significant progress in all key areas over the past year. The Slovenian Minister of Justice Andreja Katič also assessed that Slovenia is taking steps in the right direction in strengthening the rule of law. (July 8)