On 17 July, the European Commission published its 2026 Rule of Law Report. This report assesses the progress made on the recommendations set out in the 2025 report, and examines the developments that have occurred since then, with a particular focus on 2025 and the first half of 2026. This is the seventh in a series of annual reports that have been published since 2020. As part of preparing the report, the Commission held discussions with representatives of the Human Rights Ombudsman of the Republic of Slovenia.

The country chapter on Slovenia notes that significant justice reforms have been implemented to strengthen judicial independence, overhaul the disciplinary framework for judges, and reform the court network. Meanwhile, the digitalisation of the justice system has continued. Nevertheless, challenges remain regarding the length of court proceedings and increasing court backlogs, particularly in administrative cases. The duration of proceedings also remains an issue in cases involving money laundering and corruption.

In the area of corruption prevention, the Commission highlights the continued implementation of the national anti-corruption strategy. However, it also notes limited progress in investigating and prosecuting corruption, as well as the Commission for the Prevention of Corruption's ongoing challenges, including attempts to undermine its credibility. The report highlights the harmonisation of conflict-of-interest rules for public officials and notes the low level of reporting of lobbying contacts and corruption risks associated with large infrastructure projects and the healthcare sector. The Commission recommends that Slovenia take further measures to ensure a sustained track record of investigations, prosecutions, and final judgements in corruption cases, including those involving high-level corruption.

Regarding the media, the Commission acknowledges progress in terms of funding and transparency, but also draws attention to the ongoing concentration of the media market and the challenging working conditions faced by journalists. The Commission also highlights the adoption of new legislation to protect against strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs), but notes that challenges will remain until the legislation is effectively implemented. It recommends that Slovenia broaden the range of safeguards available to improve the protection of journalists, taking European standards on the protection of journalists into account.

The report also notes that the Human Rights Ombudsman continued to handle a substantial number of complaints, and that the environment for civil society organisations remained favourable. Within its mandate, the Ombudsman regularly contributes to monitoring the state of the rule of law and human rights, as well as to international reporting in this field. This year, the Ombudsman once again prepared a national contribution to the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions' (ENNHRI) annual report on the state of the rule of law in the European Union. The Ombudsman drew attention to the pressure and harassment experienced by independent institutions and civil society organisations in public debate, recommending that the authorities strengthen their protection against such conduct. Further details of the national contribution will be published by the Ombudsman in the coming days.