Brussels - European Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders has urged Slovenia's Justice Minister Lilijana Kozlovič to speed up the appointment of European delegated prosecutors. The European Public Prosecutor's Office is set to be launched on 1 June and the only other participating country running behind is Finland, unofficial sources have told the STA.

Reynders addressed Kozlovič in a letter sent to her on Thursday and seen by the STA. He wrote that he counted on the minister to adopt all final measures to allow the launch of the European Public Prosecutor's Office by 1 June.

The commissioner also called on Kozlovič to forward to the European Public Prosecutor's Office Slovenia's candidate list for prosecutors as soon as possible and no later than 18 May. In March, Reynders called on states to conclude appointment procedures in April.

Reynders said that if Slovenia's two delegated prosecutors will not get appointed in due time, this would not prevent the start of operations of the European Public Prosecutor's Office, as Slovenia's European prosecutor has the possibility to conduct investigations with the same powers as the European delegated prosecutors.

Reynders and Kozlovič are expected to meet on 12 May to discuss Slovenia's priorities for the country's upcoming presidency of the Council of the EU. Reynders and European Chief Prosecutor Laura Kövesi have both urged Slovenia to appoint the delegated prosecutors in the past months.

Kozlovič nominated Matej Oštir and Tanja Frank Eler for Slovenia's European delegated prosecutors, who have been proposed by the council of state prosecutors.

According to unofficial sources, Prime Minister Janez Janša objected to their appointments, after they have been involved in investigations looking into Janša's assets.