Slovenian Minister Polona Rifelj Proposes Withdrawal of State Attorney Powers Over C0 Canal Review

Slovenia's Environment Minister Polona Rifelj announced she will ask the government to strip the state attorney of its authority to seek a Supreme Court review of the C0 canal environmental impact assessment (EIA) case. The move aims to prevent duplicated, lengthy legal proceedings and secure a swift final decision.

The C0 canal is a key component of a €135.6 million wastewater project that will link the municipalities of Vodice and Medvode to Ljubljana's central treatment plant. The route crosses a protected groundwater area supplying drinking water to more than 300,000 residents. The agency ARSO required an EIA in 2020, but a previous ministry decision removed that requirement, leading to a court dispute. The administrative court reinstated the EIA mandate, while the state attorney continues to push for a review of that ruling.

Rifelj stressed that protecting clean drinking water is her top priority and that the EIA should be based on scientific evidence and law, not political controversy. The project is largely financed by EU funds (about €69 million), with additional national contributions, making timely completion critical for meeting EU deadlines.