1 April, 2020
Presentation

The Government of the Republic of Slovenia has issued a Decree on a temporary general ban on movement and assembly of people in public places and areas in the Republic of Slovenia and on movement outside municipalities. The Decree entered into force on 30 January 2020 and introduces some key changes, which we summarise below.
The Decree prohibits the following until further notice in order to contain and control the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) epidemic:

  • movement and assembly of people in public places and areas,
  • access to public places and areas,
  • movement outside the municipality of permanent or temporary residence, except as otherwise
  • provided for in this Decree.

The Decree shall not apply to activities carried out by the competent services for the purpose of ensuring the performance of the tasks of the State, self-governing local authorities and public services.

Movement, access to and staying in a public place shall be permitted for individuals, subject to maintaining a safe distance from other persons (Art. 3):

 

  • arriving and leaving for work and carrying out work tasks,
  • carrying out economic, agricultural and forestry activities,
  • eliminating imminent danger to health, life and property,
  • care and assistance to persons in need of support or for the care or – care of family members,
  • access to pharmacies, health and sanitation services,
  • access to foreign diplomatic and consular missions,
  • access to emergency services,
  • access to the performance of tasks related to the functioning of judicial authorities,
  • access to services for people with disabilities. Movement, access and stay in a public place, subject
  • to maintaining a safe distance from other persons, is permitted for individuals (Art. 3):
  • access to grocery shops and direct agricultural sales,
  • access to drugstores and drug markets,
  • access to the sale of medical products and medical devices and sanitary aids,
  • access to places selling food for animals,
  • access to the sale and maintenance of safety and emergency products,
  • access to agricultural shops, including slaughterhouses, and shops selling seeds, feed and
  • fertilisers,
  • access to petrol stations,
  • access to banks and post offices,
  • access to delivery, cleaning and hygiene services,
  • access to municipal waste services,
  • access to car services and services for agricultural and forestry machinery and equipment.



If these services are not provided in the municipality of residence, access is allowed to another municipality, but only to the nearest accessible service on a public road or public path.

The details of any of the above exemptions for the territory of a particular self-governing local authority may be laid down by the mayor in a decision to be made public, depending on the specific needs of the community.

During a declared SARS-CoV-2 infectious disease epidemic (COVID-19), an individual with a permanent and temporary residence may be accommodated at only one residence address and may not change or move between the two during the declared epidemic.

Access to public parks and other walking areas is only allowed in the municipality of permanent or temporary residence (Article 4). For the territory of a local authority, the mayor may, by a decision to be made public, determine the manner and conditions of access or prohibit access to certain public places and areas in the municipality. The mayor may also use members of the Civil Protection Service to supervise the implementation of the ordinance and the mayor’s decision in the area of his/her municipality. If, in the course of his supervision, a member of the Civil Protection Service encounters infringements which he cannot prevent or stop by means of a warning, he shall immediately inform the nearest police station.

Movement, access to and remaining in a public place shall also be permitted within the exceptions provided for in Articles 3 and 4:

groups of persons, provided that they are close family members or members of a common household and that a safe distance can be ensured to the movement of similar groups,
groups of colleagues of up to five persons, provided that they use shared personal transport for commuting to or from work or are called upon to carry out tasks in the framework of Civil Protection.

When moving or remaining in an enclosed public place where the services referred to in Article 3 are provided, the use of a protective mask or other form of protection covering the mouth and nasal area (scarf, headscarf or similar forms of protection) covering the nose and mouth and protective gloves shall be compulsory, taking into account the maintenance of a safe distance from other persons.

Fines for offences under this Ordinance shall be imposed in accordance with the Infectious Diseases Act. In addition to the competent inspection services, the police shall monitor the implementation of the Ordinance within the scope of their powers.

Source:

As these amendments have led to several dilemmas and questions, as well as some ambiguities, we are also publishing the questions and answers to which the Government of the Republic of Slovenia has responded:

What will the citizen have to prove to the authorities, in case of a check, the necessity or purpose of the journey (visit to a pharmacy in a neighbouring municipality, travel to and from work, care for an elderly relative)? Will an individual who has been sent by his employer to work in another municipality have to prove this by means of a certificate from his employer?
The Ordinance does not currently require a certificate proving the necessity of the journey. However, it is advisable that the individual carries with him/her anything that proves the claim that the journey to the other municipality is necessary. This will make the work of the police officers easier and shorten the procedure.

A fortnight ago, many people left Ljubljana and other cities for their weekends in the country or to go home to their parents. These families have their permanent residence registered in Ljubljana, for example, but are currently living in Styria. For most of these families, it is safer to stay with their parents or on a weekend, as they have moved away from the city where there are more people to a place by themselves. Are they in breach of the law in this case?
If people are on weekends where they are not (permanently or temporarily) registered, then they can stay on the weekend, but they should arrange (permanent or temporary) registration of their residence at the administrative unit.

We have a permanent residence in one municipality, but we have a company and a flat in another municipality, where we have been quarantined since 12.3.2020 and where we wanted to stay until the end of the quarantine. What should we do?
Since you are temporarily living at a different address, we suggest that you arrange a temporary residence at the address where you actually live.

My boyfriend moved in with me two weeks ago and has no temporary residence. As he can only move within his own municipality, he is probably in breach of the law and commutes to work in another municipality. What can be done?
Individuals who need to regularise their registration can do so via the e-Government portal, directly to the email address of the administrative unit in whose area they are registering, or by post.

Can partners who do not share a household visit each other?
Partners who are not living in the same household are not allowed to visit each other.

Can we go to a garden (for a weekend) in another municipality?
The Temporary General Prohibition of Movement Ordinance allows for an exception, namely that, subject to maintaining a safe distance from others, it is permissible for an individual to carry out agricultural activities.

Cultivating a field in another municipality
 The Ordinance on the Temporary General Prohibition of Movement and Assembly of Persons in Public Places and Areas in the Republic of Slovenia and the Prohibition of Movement Outside Municipalities allows an exception, in that it is permissible for individuals to carry out agricultural activities, subject to maintaining a safe distance from other persons.

Can I visit my parents who live in another municipality from one municipality to help them with their daily chores?
 Movement, access and staying in a public place is allowed, subject to maintaining a safe distance from other persons for individuals, for the care and assistance of persons in need of support or for the care or care of family members.

Can I shop in the municipality where I work or do I have to go to a shop in my home town?
 You can, but please use protective equipment and take precautions.

Taking care of an animal, such as horses, in another municipality
 You will still be able to take care of your animal even if you have it in another municipality, as this is emergency care for the animal, which is allowed by the Ordinance on the Temporary General Prohibition of Movement and Assembly of Persons in Public Places and Areas in the Republic of Slovenia and the Prohibition of Movement Outside the Municipalities of the Republic of Slovenia.

Shopping in a shop outside the municipality of residence
Article 3(3) of the Ordinance on the Temporary General Prohibition of Movement and Assembly of Persons in Public Places and Areas in the Republic of Slovenia and the Prohibition of Movement Outside the Municipalities also allows for an exception relating to access to shops if these services are not provided in the municipality of residence. If these services are not provided in the municipality of residence, or if access to these services is restricted, access to another municipality is permitted, but only to the nearest such shop by a public road or path.

What is meant by access to park areas? Can I walk, run and cycle in the city?
 A park or walking area is not a city, and a forest is not a city. The ordinance allows people to access the nearest park, walking area, the nearest forest in their municipality and, for example, to take the walk they have planned. Walking, jogging or cycling in the city is not the same as walking, jogging or cycling in a park or forest – so no.

Is it permissible – taking into account all current restrictions in force – to move from one dwelling to another? E.g. within Ljubljana.
If it is a move from one flat to another in the same municipality, then it is allowed. In cases of emergency, in the event of force majeure, moving from one apartment in one municipality to another apartment in another municipality is exceptionally allowed. Of course, a safe distance to other persons must be respected, and only immediate family members or members of the same household can help with the move.

Attending the funeral of a parent in another municipality
With regard to Article 3 of the Ordinance on the Temporary General Prohibition of Movement and Assembly in Public Places and Areas in the Republic of Slovenia and the Prohibition of Movement Outside Municipalities, attendance at a funeral is considered to be access to emergency services and is therefore allowed, but only for immediate family members or members of the same household.

We would like to point out that the provisions of Article 6 of the Ordinance must also be complied with, and that, in a closed public place, a protective mask or other form of protection (scarf, headscarf, etc.) covering the nose and mouth and protective gloves must be worn, while maintaining a safe distance from other persons.

Contact between separated parents and their children
Article 3 of the Ordinance on the Temporary General Prohibition of Movement and Assembly of People in Public Places and Areas in the Republic of Slovenia and Prohibition of Movement Outside Municipalities allows for an exception relating to the care and care of family members. This exception also applies to cases where the parents are separated and each parent has a right of access to the child, subject to a court order, and they reside in different municipalities.

I am building a house outside my municipality of residence, which is a new building that has not yet been occupied. I would like to know whether, in view of the new ban, I can drive my car to the house and work there (alone, without contact with others) or whether I can go and collect some high-value items ordered through the post, which would otherwise be left in the yard and I would risk damage to my property if they got soaked by the rain or stolen.
The Ordinance on the Temporary General Prohibition of Movement and Assembly in Public Places and Areas in the Republic of Slovenia and Prohibition of Movement Outside the Municipalities does not allow travel to another municipality for the purpose of (self-)construction of a dwelling house. However, if such a journey would be necessary to prevent major property damage, it would be permissible to consider it as an urgent matter provided for by the Decree, but solely for the purpose of preventing damage (i.e. in your case to protect or move objects to safety).

Where can I get protective gloves that have not been sold in pharmacies for some time?
Protective gloves are needed in a closed public place, e.g. a shop or pharmacy. Such protective gloves are available at the entrance to the shop or pharmacy. You can also use other gloves, e.g. household gloves.

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EU Funds

The project is part-funded by the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities and the European Union through the European Social Fund. The operation is financed under the Operational Programme for the Implementation of the European Cohesion Policy 2014-2020, Priority Axis 9 “Social inclusion and reducing the risk of poverty”, Priority Investment 9.1 “Active inclusion, including the promotion of equal opportunities and active participation, and improving employability”, Specific Objective 9.1.2 “Empowering target groups to move towards the labour market”.