Minister Kirbiš Rojs: “Simplification should be more than a buzzword”
SLOVENIA, September 25 - Days of Slovenian Administration is the largest and longest-running conference on public administration in the country, bringing together representatives of public administration, local government, public institutions, academia, the business community and other stakeholders for more than three decades. The 33rd edition put spotlight on artificial intelligence and its impact on the public sector, giving particular attention to the relationship between central government and local self-government.
Minister Kirbiš Rojs highlighted the importance of reducing unnecessary administrative burdens as part of ongoing efforts to modernise public administration. She noted that lengthy procedures, multiple approval steps and extensive administrative requirements can present challenges to the timely implementation of development projects. Effective oversight and control remain essential, while administrative processes should be as efficient and proportionate as possible, she said. According to the Minister, public administration should gradually evolve towards a more user-centred approach that responds to the needs of people.
The Minister cited the efficient use of EU funds as a practical example of effective public administration. She noted that around EUR 200 million in expenditure had been certified within a short timeframe, helping to avoid the loss of part of the country's EU allocation. She also stressed the importance of speeding up project implementation and strengthening the absorption of EU funds to maximise their impact on development.
She highlighted that “the value of EU funding is ultimately measured by its impact on the ground. It delivers its full value when it is perceived as relevant and beneficial by stakeholders and citizens, and when its benefits are reflected in everyday life through projects, such as new roads, kindergartens, schools, community health centres, business zones or other development investments.” She noted that the effectiveness of cohesion policy is not assessed through the number of prepared documents but through the tangible results it delivers for people and communities on the ground.
As regards the 2028-2034 programming period, the Minister said that according to current estimates, the allocation available to Slovenia could amount to between €5 billion and €6 billion. On the other hand, Slovenia is expected to contribute between €8 and €9 million to the EU budget during the period. Maintaining Slovenia’s position as a net beneficiary of the EU budget will require both effective absorption of cohesion policy funding and stronger performance in securing funding under centrally managed EU programmes.
The Minister also addressed decentralisation and the establishment of provinces. She emphasised that the discussion is not primarily about creating new institutions, but about identifying the most appropriate governance level for carrying out specific responsibilities effectively, efficiently and close to citizens. She noted that certain responsibilities, such as spatial planning, transport and other infrastructure planning, the implementation of development projects, particularly EU-funded projects, flood risk management, and projects requiring coordination across several municipalities, could be transferred to the province level.
In line with the theme of the 2026 Days of Slovenian Administration, Minister Kirbiš Rojs addressed digital transformation and artificial intelligence. She noted that technology alone cannot address inefficiencies in existing procedures, stressing that digitalisation should go hand in hand with simplification. “If a complex procedure is transferred online, it is still a complex procedure. Likewise, converting an unnecessary form into a digital format does not make it more useful,” she said. The Minister underlined that administrative processes should first be simplified before being digitalised, adding that public administration should remain human-centred and responsive to people's needs in the digital age.
Concluding her address, the Minister stressed that the effectiveness of public administration is best measured by the ease and efficiency with which citizens and businesses can resolve their matters and highlighted the importance of ensuring that administrative procedures are simple, accessible and responsive to users' needs.
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