Rule of law is laid down in the EU treaties as one of the values on which the Union is based. It means that governments should be bound by law&nbsp;not to take arbitrary decisions, and that citizens should be able to challenge their actions in independent courts.

It also enshrines the fight against corruption, which unfairly favours some to the detriment of others, and the safeguarding of media freedom, thus ensuring that the public is properly informed about the work of government.

The EU has existing tools at its disposal to protect the rule of law. In&nbsp;September 2020, the European Commission published the first annual rule of law&nbsp;report monitoring both positive and negative developments with regard to the rule of law in all member states. In July 2021 the second edition of the report was published.

There is also&nbsp;dialogue on the rule of law in the Council.

If the Commission deems that a member state is violating EU law, it can start infringement proceedings that may lead to financial sanctions determined by the European Court of Justice. Another procedure, under Article 7 of the Treaty of the European Union, allows the Council to make recommendations or decide by unanimity on sanctions against a member state, including the suspension of membership rights.&nbsp;MEPs have argued that existing tools are insufficient.

​Under the new regulation, effective from January 2021, EU budget payments can be witheld from countries where established breaches of the rule of law compromise management of EU funds. At the same time, the EU ensures that final beneficiaries do not end up paying the bill.

Rule of law

Slovenia is a Member of the EU since May 2004, of the Eurozone since 1 January 2007 and of the Schengen area since 21 December 2007.

In March 2021, a debate in plenary was organised in the wake of concerns raised after Klubradio in Hungary was taken off the air, the proposed new levy on media advertising revenue in Poland, and emerging reports of political interference in Slovenian media. In November 2020, Parliament adopted the Resolution on Strengthening Media Freedom: the Protection of Journalists in Europe, Hate Speech, Disinformation and the Role of Platforms.

EU - Slovenia

From July to December 2021, Slovenia holds the Presidency of the EU Council, following the Portuguese Presidency and preceding the French Presidency. This is the second time Slovenia holds the Presidency.The last time was in 2008.

The presidency of the Council rotates among the EU member states every 6 months. During this 6-month period, the presidency chairs meetings at every level in the Council, helping to ensure the continuity of the EU's work. Member states holding the presidency work together closely in groups of three, called 'trios'. This system was introduced by the Lisbon Treaty in 2009.

The trio sets long-term goals and prepares a common agenda determining the topics and major issues that will be addressed by the Council over an 18-month period. On the basis of this programme, each of the three countries prepares its own more detailed 6-month programme.

Under the slogan “Together. Resilient. Europe.”,&nbsp;the Slovenian presidency wants to&nbsp;focus on recovery and resilience, translating ambitious green goals into binding legislation, strategic autonomy, the digital transition, rule of law and the protection of external borders.

Slovenian Presidency

From the 1st of July 2021, Slovenia is holding the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union. However, the country&nbsp;has also been the subject of discussions about the “rule of law” within the EU, a concept referring to respect for due process, plurality in politics and media and the upholding of civic freedoms such as free speech.

In its last 2021 Rule of Law report the EC mentioned that the situation of media in the country has been deteriorating.&nbsp;Online harassment of and threats against journalists are a growing source of concern, and several lawsuits against journalists with intimidating effects have been reported as well as&nbsp;instances of political interference in media.

Attacks on media&nbsp;have been criticized by international, European and national journalists and editors associations. The European Commission intervened various times to express its concerns.

A delegation of the Civil Liberties Committee travelled&nbsp;to&nbsp;Slovenia between 13 and 15 October to&nbsp;take stock of the latest developments in the country as regards the situation of the rule of law, media freedom and the fight against corruption including the question of Slovenian delegated prosecutors to the European Public Prosecutors Office.

Their agenda included&nbsp;exchanges with: NGOs; the Human Rights Ombudsman; academics; journalists and press freedom organisations;the Supreme State Prosecutor and former president of the Association of Public Prosecutors of Slovenia; the Data Protection Commissioner; officials of the Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Culture; representatives from the Commission for the Prevention of Corruption; members of the National Assembly; the President of the National Council; and the Presidents of the Constitutional Court and the Court of Auditors.

At the end of the mission, Sophie in ‘t Veld, the Chair of the Civil Liberties Committee delegation, said: "“We observed that the public institutions overall work well. At the same time, the delegation experienced a climate of hostility, distrust and deep polarisation in the country, which erodes trust in and between various public bodies."

Rule of law in Slovenia

Nataša Pirc Musar, President of the Republic of Slovenia, meets with Roberta METSOLA, EP Preside, and addresses plenary in a formal sitting after the opening of the session. President of Slovenia, Nataša Pirc Musar, will outline her vision for the EU, in a formal sitting starting immediately after the opening. Born in 1968, Ms Pirc Musar has been President of Slovenia since December 2022. After graduating in law, she worked as a journalist for several years and was appointed as Slovenia’s Information Commissioner in 2005, a post she held for two five-year terms. Before becoming President, Pirc Musar also worked as an attorney.

Nataša PIRC MUSAR, President of the Republic of Slovenia, meets with Roberta METSOLA, EP President, and addresses the plenary

EP President Metsola meets the President of the National Assembly of Slovenia, Urška Klakočar Zupančič and she addresses the National Assembly of Slovenia. President Metsola and President Klakočar Zupančič speak to the press. She also meets the President of Slovenia, Nataša Pirc Musar and the Prime Minister of Slovenia, Robert Golob. The EP President and Prime Minister Golob speak to the press.

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Slovenia

EP Mini-Plenary Session - Formal sitting - Address by Nataša PIRC MUSAR, President of the Republic of Slovenia

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Nataša PIRC MUSAR, President of Slovenia

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Ljubljana (Slovenia) - Meeting with Robert GOLOB, Slovenian Prime Minister

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Ljubljana (Slovenia) - Meeting with Nataša PIRC MUSAR, President of Slovenia

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Ljubljana (Slovenia) - Press point with Urška KLAKOČAR ZUPANČIČ, President of the Slovenian National Assembly

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Ljubljana (Slovenia) - Address by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to the Slovenian National Assembly

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Ljubljana (Slovenia) - Meeting with Urška KLAKOČAR ZUPANČIČ, President of the Slovenian National Assembly

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Urška Klakočar ZUPANČIČ, Speaker of the Slovenian Parliament

Nataša PIRC MUSAR, President of Slovenia, addresses plenary in a formal sitting after the opening of the session in Brussels. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Formal sitting: address by Nataša PIRC MUSAR, President of Slovenia

Roberta METSOLA, EP President, makes a statement before giving the floor to Nataša PIRC MUSAR, President of Slovenia, to address the plenary in a formal sitting in Brussels. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Formal sitting with Nataša PIRC MUSAR, President of Slovenia: statement by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

Atmosphere from the hemicycle at the opening of the plenary session in Brussels. Nataša PIRC MUSAR, President of Slovenia, will address the plenary in a formal sitting.

Formal sitting: address by Nataša PIRC MUSAR, President of Slovenia - Atmosphere in the hemicycle

After the arrival and welcome by Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, Nataša PIRC MUSAR, President of Slovenia addresses to the plenary in Brussels. This news item shows extracts from arrival of President Nataša Pirc Musar, welcome by President Metsola, and extracts from her address to the plenary.

Formal sitting with Nataša PIRC MUSAR, President of Slovenia: extracts from the arrival, welcome by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and from the address to the plenary

This news item shows general shots of the city of Koper, Slovenia. The footage also contains interior views of advance vote in a local polling station. Citizens in every EU Member State elect their representatives to the European Parliament during the European elections. In Slovenia citizens can exercise their democratic right in advance voting between 4th and 6th of June. The newly elected 9 Members, representing all EU citizens until 2029, meet in July to elect their President, Vice-Presidents and Quaestors. They decide on the composition of Parliament's standing and sub committees - thereby launching the new legislative term.

European elections 2024 - Ambiance shots of advance voting in a polling station in Koper (Slovenia)

This news item shows advance voting in the European elections on the 6th of June in the Exhibition and Convention Center "Gospodarsko razstavišče" in Ljubljana, Slovenia. The footage shows, in particular, a mother casting her vote accompanied by her child. Slovenian citizens elect their 9 representatives to the European Parliament. In Slovenia citizens can exercise their democratic right in advance voting between 4th and 6th of June. The newly elected 9 Slovenian Members, representing Slovenian and all EU citizens until 2029, meet in July with other representatives to elect their President, Vice-Presidents and Quaestors. They decide on the composition of Parliament's standing and sub committees - thereby launching the new legislative term.

European elections 2024 - Ambiance shots of advance voting in a polling station in Ljubljana (Slovenia)

EP President Roberta Metsola, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, former EP President Pat Cox, and former Commission President Romano Prodi participates in a formal sitting of Parliament to mark the 20th anniversary of the 2004 EU enlargement round along with representatives from the ten countries, that joined the EU 20 years ago. During the ceremony, the guests answer questions from a group of young people born on or around 1 May 2004 from the new member states, who are invited to attend the sitting.

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement: extracts from the ceremony

European Parliament celebrates the 20th anniversary of the EU’s biggest enlargement On Wednesday morning, MEPs, EU and member state representatives, and young people born in May 2004, will mark the ten countries joining the EU 20 years ago. On this occasion, EP President Roberta Metsola welcomes Leszek MILLER, Pat COX, Günter VERHEUGEN, Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA, Peter MEDGYESSY, Lawrence GONZI, Anton ROP, Mikulas DZURINDA, Kristiina OJULAND, Giorgios IACOVOU, Antanas VALIONIS, Pavel TELIČKA and Romano PRODI

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