Slovenia slapped with EU warning over C-Bank investigation
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Information on the formal notice was published in an official Commission register of proceedings for establishing violation of EU legislation.
The file in the register notes that the case relates to the seizure of documents owned by the European Central Bank from the Banka Slovenije premises, which may constitute a violation of EU privileges and immunity rules and statutes related to the European Central Bank.
Slovenia now has two months to respond to the notice. In Thursday's statement, the Commission said it was encouraging the Slovenian authorities to engage in constructive dialogue with the ECB as a means of finding common ground for ensuring that the investigation confirms to EU laws.
Formal notice may be followed by a second warning, called a reasoned opinion, whereupon the country has two months to act to rectify the situation before it is taken to the Court of Justice by the Commission.
The announcement comes after media reported in February that the commission had launched legal proceedings against Slovenia over the July 2016 raid at the Slovenian central bank.
The ECB had claimed its data were illegally seized as part of the investigation. ■