Brussels - The European Parliament's democracy monitoring group plans to go on a fact-finding mission to Slovenia between 13 and 15 October, shows a document obtained by the STA. They would like to meet representatives of the media, NGOs as well as state institutions and the government.

The head of the group, MEP Sophie in 't Veld (Renew), announced the fact-finding mission at a plenary in early July.

In line with the draft programme obtained by the STA, members of the group want to meet representatives of NGOs active in the protection of the rule of law. These include the Peace Institute, Amnesty International Slovenija and the CNVOS centre of NGOs.

On the first day of the visit, meetings are planned with Human Rights Ombudsman Peter Svetina and representatives of the academia, including Marko Milosavljević from the Faculty of Social Sciences, Žiga Turk from the Cathedral of Freedom and Bojan Dobovšek from the Faculty of Criminal Justice and Security.

On Thursday, the group is to meet representatives of media outlets, including the head of the Slovenian Journalist Association (DNS), Petra Lesjak Tušek, STA editor-in-chief Barbara Štrukelj, public broadcaster RTV Slovenija director general Andre Grah Whatmough and several journalists.

The MEPs would also like to hold talks with Supreme State Prosecutor Mirjam Kline, and representatives of state institutions and the government.

A meeting with Prime Minister Janez Janša is planned alongside meetings with several ministers, including the culture and justice ministers, and the former justice minister, Lilijana Kozlovič.

According to sources in Brussels, all of the meetings are yet to be confirmed.

The Parliament's democracy monitoring group has so far held two debates dedicated to the situation in Slovenia. Janša was invited to the second debate but instead of delivering an opening address he wanted to show a video on the media situation in Slovenia, which 't Veld did not agree to.

She also handed him at a July plenary, at which Janša presented Slovenia's EU priorities, a list of questions which the group had sent to the Slovenian government in March to receive no reply.

The Democracy, Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights Monitoring Group has 14 MEPs, two from each political group, but it is not clear how many of them will visit Slovenia. Expectedly, one MEP from each group will take part in the mission. The group is part of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE).