166th regular session of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia

The purpose of the proposed new amendments to the Nature Conservation Act is primarily to eliminate unnecessary administrative barriers, improve the management of natural assets, introduce emergency measures in cases of direct threat posed by large carnivores, regulate the invasive alien species, regulate the issue of driving in natural areas, improve supervision, and increase fines. The new amendment introduces administrative simplifications such as not issuing nature conservation consents for minor reconstruction and maintenance work, and abolishing the issuing of declaratory decisions on the existence of protected areas. For the management of natural assets and protected areas, an additional option is introduced whereby, in accordance with legal act on the protection, the founder may manage the protected area directly within an organisational unit of the Ministry, municipality or joint municipal administration. The exercise of the pre-emption right is simplified and enabled on agricultural and forest land within certain Natura 2000 areas outside of protected areas. The payment regulation for viewing and visiting natural assets has been amended, namely by specifying the reasons FOR which visitors may exceptionally be required to pay an entrance or access fee, who is entitled to charge such a fee, how the fee amount is determined, how the collected funds may be used, and the rules for distributing the funds from fees among the beneficiaries. To enable more effective management of large carnivores, the new amendment proposes the enactment of emergency measures for hunting ground managers to take in cases of direct threat posed by large carnivores. The new amendment regulates the implementation of measures and designates the competent authorities for that purpose to ensure the comprehensive implementation of the Decree on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species. The new amendment takes into account numerous initiatives from civil society to regulate the issue of fines and minor offences related to driving in natural areas. Therefore, an increase in fines is proposed, together with additional measures for inspectors, nature conservation wardens and the police.

The Government adopted the proposal for the Co-Financing of the Organisation of the 2029 European Men's Basketball Championship in Ljubljana Act. It instructed the Ministry of the Economy, Tourism and Sport to draw up, by 2027 at the latest, a proposal for the regulation regarding the systemic arrangement of the co-financing of major international sporting events. The Basketball Federation of Slovenia (KZS) has acquired the right to organise one group in the group stage of the FIBA EuroBasket 2029 Men's Championship in Ljubljana. The organisation of such an event is in the public interest as it will popularise and promote sport and stimulate the Slovenian economy and tourism. To organise the event, the Basketball Federation of Slovenia must pay a fee to the international sports federation FIBA Europe, covering media rights, TV production and other costs. As the fee and organisational costs exceed the financial capacity of the Basketball Federation of Slovenia, the co-financing of the event in the amount of EUR 3,775,000 is proposed. However, the current legislation does not allow for such co-financing. Therefore, the Government is proposing the adoption of a special act to enable the co-financing of EuroBasket 2029. Otherwise, major international sporting events are co-financed in accordance with the annual national sports programme, subject to the prior consent of the Government. The Government has already given its consent for the submission of the bid and for possible co-financing in 2029.

The Government has repealed the decision allowing Israeli security officers to be armed at the Ljubljana international airport. The Aviation Act provides that, on the proposal of the minister responsible for transport, the Government determines the exceptions and specifics concerning the carrying and use of weapons, as well as the transport of weapons and dangerous items at public airports and in air traffic, where permitted by other regulations and deemed necessary for safety purposes. The Government shall decide on individual exceptions by means of a decision. At its 28th regular session on 3 July 2003, the Government adopted a decision permitting Israeli security officers at the Ljubljana international airport to carry handguns and the corresponding ammunition during the operations of airlines registered in the State of Israel. At its 345th regular session on 31 July 2025, the Government adopted a decision on taking note of the information on the issuance of permits for the export and transit of military weapons. In view of the armed conflicts and the resulting serious and manifest violations of international law, humanitarian law and human rights in the West Bank and Gaza by Israel, instructed the Ministry of Infrastructure, in cooperation with the Ministry of Defence, to review the protocols followed by stakeholders during the transit of military weapons and equipment.