Summary of governmental actions in light of COVID-19 (as at 20.3.2020)

Dear clients,

on 16 March 2020, we provided you with a summary of actions taken by the competent authorities to manage the spread of SARS-COV-2 (COVID-19). As new, additional measures have been taken since then, please see below a summary of these measures.

Prohibition of public gatherings

As of 20 March 2020, 00:00 hours, the Order on the temporary prohibition of public gathering at public meetings and public events and other events in public places in the Republic of Slovenia is in force.

Individuals are thus not allowed to move around, access to, and stay in a public place, except for certain limited purposes (and always subject to individuals keeping a safe distance from other persons), inter alia:

• getting to and from work and performing work duties;
• performing economic, agricultural and forestry activities;
• eliminating immediate threats to health, life and property;
• care and assistance to persons in need of support;
• access to pharmacies, grocery stores and direct agricultural sales;
• access to drugstores and drugstore markets;
• access to the sale of medicinal products and medical devices and sanitary devices;
• access to health and sanitary services;
• access to services for persons with special needs;
• access to locations selling animal food;
• access to the sale and maintenance of safety and emergency products;
• access to emergency services;
• access to agricultural stores, including slaughterhouses and the sale of seeds, feedstuffs and fertilizers;
• access to filling stations (gas stations);
• access to banks and post offices;
• access to the performance of tasks related to the operation of judicial authorities;
• access to delivery, cleaning and hygiene services;
• access to municipal utility services for waste management;
• access to car repair services and agricultural and forestry machinery and equipment repair services;
• access to public parks and other areas for walking;
• access to foreign diplomatic missions and consular posts.

Movement, access to, and staying in a public place shall, within the framework of the abovementioned exceptions, also be allowed for:

• groups of persons who are close family members or share the same household, provided they keep a safe distance from other similar groups;
• groups of up to five co-workers who share the same personal vehicle to get to work or who have been called up to perform tasks within the Civil Protection Service.

Fines for offences under this Order will be imposed pursuant to the act governing communicable diseases.

National Assembly adopted the Interim Measures on Judicial, Administrative and Other Public Law Matters Act to control the spread of the infectious disease SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)

On 19 March 2020, the National Assembly adopted the abovementioned act, however, the said act is not yet in force nor officially published.

With respect to judicial matters/cases, the Act stipulates that both substantive time limits (time limits for exercising the rights of the parties) and procedural time limits in judicial proceedings do not run, except for time limits in judicial proceedings which are considered urgent.

With respect to administrative matters, the time limits for exercising rights are extended, and it is also stipulated that procedural time limits in administrative and misdemeanor proceedings do not run (except in urgent proceedings).

The Act also introduces temporary changes regarding the summoning of convicts to serve prison sentences, transfer of convicts, suspension of sentences and early release.

The said legal measures remain in force until further notice, but no longer than 1 July 2020.

We will prepare a more detailed overview of the said act shortly and update you accordingly.

Extension of deadlines for filing tax returns and submission of annual reports

The Government has prepared a draft of the Emergency Measures in the Public Finance Area Act which should go through the parliamentary procedure as an urgent matter. The proposed Act will relieve entrepreneurs and businesses of administrative burdens as they face the effects of the COVID-19 infectious disease epidemic, by extending the deadlines for submitting tax returns and annual reports.

The deadlines for submitting the tax return for the payment of personal income tax on business income and for the tax return on corporate income tax and for submitting annual reports to the Agency of the Republic of Slovenia for Public Legal Records and Related Services (AJPES) (all for 2019) are postponed from 31 March to 31 May 2020.

The Act postpones the deadline for the tax authority to draw up the 2019 informative tax return to June 30, 2020 and, consequently, delays the deadline for tax residents who will not be served the 2019 informative tax return by July 15, 2020, to file a personal income tax return by August 31, 2020.

Border control checks between Slovenia and Italy

As of 19 March 2020 (from 00:00 onwards), the (new) Order on the Conditions of Entry into the Republic of Slovenia from the Italian Republic is in force.

Four (not six anymore) checkpoints are established in the border area on road connections with the Italian Republic: Vrtojba, Fernetiči, Škofije and Krvavi potok. Vrtojba, Fernetiči and Škofije checkpoints are open 24/7 while Krvavi potok checkpoint is open from 5am to 11pm.

Entry into the Republic of Slovenia is allowed to a foreigner if he/she submits proof in Slovenian, English or Italian not more than three days old showing negative results for SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) (or even without such proof if his/her body temperature is below 37,5°C and he/she shows no clear signs of upper respiratory tract infection (cough, sneezing, shortness of breath)).

Entry into the Republic of Slovenia is allowed to a Slovenian national and to a person with permanent or temporary residence in the Republic of Slovenia.

The Order does not apply to Slovenian nationals, who have their land in the territory of the Italian Republic along the state border and perform agricultural work.

Passenger train traffic and international occasional and regular bus services between Italy and Slovenia are suspended. Road freight transport (except transport of post, medicines, health protection equipment and humanitarian aid) from Italy to Slovenia is suspended. exception is road freight transport which has its final destination in the Republic of Slovenia or which are is transitory and it is agreed with the relevant Slovenia’s neighbouring country to accept the freight vehicle.

Closure of border crossing points between Slovenia and Croatia

On 18.3.2020 (at 00.00 hrs), the Order on the temporary cessation of operation of 27 (smaller) border crossing points on the border with the Republic of Croatia entered into force.

For emergency travels, all travellers should use international border crossings.

Closure of border crossing points between Slovenia and Austria

On 18 March 2020 (at 00:00), Austria closed 51 border crossing points with Slovenia to restrict the spread of Covid-19. At major border crossings, traffic remains unchanged. Thus, only 14 border crossings remain open.

Amendment of the Decree fixing maximum prices for safety, protective and other health care equipment

The Government issued a Decree amending the Decree on fixing maximum prices for protective and other medical equipment, which entered into force on 17 March 2020 at 6:00 pm.

It is now considered that the fixing of the highest price of protective and other medical equipment does not apply to performing of public service for the creation and use of national commodity reserves of Agency of the Republic of Slovenia for Commodity Reserves.

Prohibition of carrying out roadworthiness tests and other procedures relating to the registration of motor vehicles

The Government temporarily banned the carrying out of technical inspections and other procedures related to the registration of motor vehicles and work in tachograph workshops in the Republic of Slovenia in order to contain and control the COVID-19 epidemic.

The ban is valid until 16 April 2020 and the validity of traffic permits, including motor vehicle insurance, is extended until 16 May 2020.

Temporary prohibition of sale of goods and services to consumers in the Republic of Slovenia

On 19.3.2020 at 00:00, the Order amending the Order on the temporary prohibition of sale of goods and services to consumers in the Republic of Slovenia entered into force.

The purpose of the order is to prevent human interaction due to the COVID-19 epidemic, and therefore longer working hours of certain stores will be established that will allow longer shopping intervals and thus reduce customer concentration.

The Order specifies opening hours for grocery stores, which will be open at least from 8am until at least 8pm. From 8am to 10am, all vulnerable groups, including the disabled, seniors and pregnant women, should be given priority for both shopping and entry. On Sundays and weekdays, all stores, except gas stations and pharmacies, are closed.

Pošta Slovenije’s communication on obstructed postal traffic

Pošta Slovenije issed a communique stating that due to the impact of the general measures adopted by the Government of the Republic of Slovenia related to the SARS-CoV-2 virus (COVID-19), cross-border mail traffic is extremely hindered and, therefore, there is a possibility that receipt of foreign shipments will be partially or completely halted/ceased in the upcoming days.

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Our law firm is actively following the latest COVID-19 developments. As always, you can contact us via e-mail or telephone +386 (0)1 2445500, or you can directly contact the lawyer you are generally in contact with.

Law Firm Kavčič, Bračun & Partners, o.p., d.o.o.

Ljubljana, 20 March 2020

 

All information contained herein is obtained from publicly available data or other sources believed to be reliable. This document is for general information purposes only, may be subject to change and may not be used instead of a legal opinion/advice. KBP does not guarantee the accuracy of the information and shall not be liable for any damages or costs in connection with the use of, or reliance on, the information contained herein.