Both candidates sue govt over non-appointment as EU delegated prosecutors

Ljubljana – The State Attorney’s Office has not decided to sue the government over a decision not to get acquainted with the appointment of Slovenia’s European delegated prosecutors as proposed by the Prosecution Council. However, a suit has been filed by both candidates for the European delegated prosecutors, Tanja Frank Eler and Matej Oštir.

The State Attorney’s Office, which represents the government in court proceedings, said such a suit or a legal proceeding based on is mainly designed as legal remedy for individuals.

Since the concrete decision allegedly encroached on the situation of the two candidates for the European delegated prosecutors, the pair can resort to this legal remedy.

The State Attorney’s Office also said that it had been notified that Frank Eler and Oštir filed lawsuits.

It added it was in Slovenia’s interest to appoint the European prosecutors as soon as possible to make the European Public Prosecutor’s Office fully up and running.

At the end of May, the government decided not to get acquainted with the appointment of the candidates after they were put forward by the justice minister.

This ended the appointment procedure and the government decided to repeat the call for applications, which triggered Justice Minister Lilijana Kozločič’s resignation.

According to media reports, the two candidates were not to the liking of Prime Minister Janez Janša because they were involved in investigations into his assets in the past.

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office was launched on 1 July, before Slovenia and Finland would appoint their prosecutors.

Finland has since resolved the deadlock, which makes Slovenia the only among the 22 participating countries without its delegated prosecutors.

Earlier today, European Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders again urged Slovenian authorities to appoint them. He sent a letter to new Justice Minister Marjan Dikaučič, asking for an explanation.

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