Slovenian administrative and construction reforms

The Slovenian Ministry of the Interior and Public Administration has introduced measures to reform administrative processes and improve service accessibility.

Initially, Minister Franci Matoz proposed extending the working hours of administrative units until 19:00 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. This initiative aims to allow citizens to manage public services without taking time off work, though labor unions reportedly learned of the plan through media rather than official consultation.

Subsequently, the Ministry announced plans to accelerate the issuance of building permits to a 60-day target, with the intent to clear backlogs within one year. To achieve this, authorities will implement a more restrictive interpretation of construction laws regarding neighbor participation, requiring neighbors to demonstrate a specific legal interest rather than merely objecting to obstructed views. Additionally, the government plans to apply stricter scrutiny to the involvement of environmental non-governmental organizations to prevent legal appeals from delaying construction projects.