Ljubljana - A bill that will simplify some administrative procedures and repeal a number of acts and regulations that remained on the books but were no longer applicable was passed by the National Assembly in a 46:41 vote on Monday in what the government has described as the first debureaucratisation package.

Called the debureaucratisation bill, the legislation most notably stipulates that mobile phone and email will be added to the central population registry on an opt-in basis so as to make the serving of official writing more efficient and make it easier for officials to contact individuals involved in procedures.

A registry of local communities' legal acts will be established, a solution proposed by the opposition in place of an originally envisaged Official Registry of the Republic of Slovenia that the opposition described as unnecessary.

Formal decision issued in litigation procedures that are e-signed will no longer be printed, and double verification of eligibility for status of sports worker will be eliminated, among other things.

Katja Triller Vrtovec, a state secretary at the prime minister's office, said the bill was based on proposals made by the Strategic Council for Debureaucratisation, a government advisory body. Subsequent such bills will follow as a package approach is deemed the only viable solution.

The bill received broad-based support from the coalition and two opposition groups, whereas four centre-left opposition parties alleged that it was potentially unconstitutional.

It was also pointed out that representatives of ministries affected by the changes had not been invited to participate in the drafting of the bill, a point raised last week by a trade union representing workers in government bodies.