The relevant Act on Specialised Bodies for Dealing with Corruption Offences and Organised Crime (Zakon o specializiranih organih za obravnavo korupcijskih kaznivih dejanj in organiziranega kriminala – ZSOKOK) was adopted by the National Assembly on 24 September.

One of the key changes will be the streamlining of procedures for investigating the relevant offences. Currently, criminal proceedings in Slovenia may involve several successive stages: an initial police investigation, a prosecutor’s decision on further proceedings, a judicial investigation led by an investigating judge, the filing of an indictment by the prosecutor, and a trial.

For cases falling within the remit of the new specialised prosecution office, the law provides for the elimination of the judicial investigation led by an investigating judge. The removal of this stage is expected to expedite proceedings, while the investigating judge will retain a judicial oversight role with respect to measures requiring judicial authorisation.

In addition to changes to investigation procedures, the reform provides for the reorganisation of specialised law enforcement and judicial bodies.

In particular, the existing Specialised State Prosecutor’s Office will be transformed into the Specialised State Prosecutor’s Office for the Prosecution of Corruption and Organised Crime. Its staffing will be increased, and a new analytical unit will be established within the office.

At the same time, the role of the National Bureau of Investigation will be expanded: it will initiate or take over investigations into offences falling within the jurisdiction of the specialised prosecution office.

The four specialised divisions currently operating within district courts will be replaced by a single Specialised Criminal Court of the Republic of Slovenia, based in Ljubljana and exercising jurisdiction throughout the country. Appeals in such cases will be heard by the Higher Court in Maribor.

Time standards for handling cases and annual reporting by the specialised court will also be introduced to assess the effectiveness of the new system.

According to Slovenia’s Ministry of Justice, the reform also takes into account recommendations by international organisations aimed at improving the effectiveness of the investigation and prosecution of corruption offences, including cases involving high-level officials. The Ministry also links the need for change to the length of proceedings in corruption and money-laundering cases.

The new system is expected to become operational on 1 July 2027. Until then, cases will continue to be handled under the existing rules, while the law’s transitional provisions are intended to ensure continuity in ongoing proceedings.

The adoption of the law was accompanied by a debate over the independence and organisation of the new specialised bodies. Representatives of the judiciary and the opposition, in particular, raised concerns about the procedure for appointing the leadership of the specialised prosecution office, the concentration of cases in a single court, and the division of powers between the new bodies. Supporters of the reform, by contrast, argue that greater specialisation and the concentration of resources could help speed up complex proceedings and improve the effectiveness of efforts to combat corruption and organised crime.