Written question – The statutory right of first refusal on the purchase of forests in Slovenia is an infringement of EU law – E-002543/2025

Question for written answer  E-002543/2025/rev.1
to the Commission
Rule 144
Matej Tonin (PPE)

In Slovenia there is an established right of first refusal for the purchase of forests in the case of complexes of more than 30 hectares located in Slovenia. This right of first refusal is granted to Slovenian State Forests (Slovenski državni gozdovi, d.o.o. (SiDG)), the company that manages and administers forests owned by the state.

I believe that such a broadly defined possibility to exercise a right of first refusal infringes EU law on three separate grounds:

(1) Because it restricts the free movement of capital between Member States;

(2) Because it constitutes an infringement of EU competition rules, as well as being unlawful State aid to a public company; and

(3) Because there is no valid reason to establish such a right of first refusal, nor can such a right be in the public interest.

Two applicants have already notified the Commission of an infringement of EU law, namely Jurij Rudež 6/12/2023 CPLT (2024)00008 and the Chamber of Agriculture and Forestry of Slovenia 16/01/2024 (2024)00467T.

I would like to ask the Commission:

Could such a broadly defined and legally guaranteed right of first refusal constitute an infringement of EU law?

Submitted: 25.6.2025