Water Protection Litigation in Slovenia
Abstract
This article explores the possibilities for the private enforcement of the constitutional right to drinking water in Slovenia, enshrined in Article 70.a of the Constitution. Through an analysis of constitutional, civil, and administrative legal frameworks, it identifies both the structural availability and the practical limitations of existing mechanisms. While Slovenia offers several legal avenues for water-related litigation, their effectiveness is often hampered by procedural barriers, evidentiary challenges, and the absence of coherent implementing legislation. Particular attention is given to the role of the Constitutional Court and the underutilized potential of administrative remedies based on the Environmental Protection Act. Civil litigation, though possible in cases of identifiable harm, remains constrained by the inherent limits of tort law. The article argues that for Article 70.a to have meaningful legal effect, legislative reform and more active judicial engagement are essential.
References
Bándi Gy (2020) Interests of Future Generations, Environmental Protection and the Fundamental Law, Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Law 15(29), pp. 7–22, https://doi.org/10.21029/JAEL.2020.29.7
Brown University (2024) Study reveals effectiveness of environment-focused litigation in the U.S., but also large inequalities, 15 November, https://www. brown.edu/news/2024-11-25/environmental-litigation [23.07.2025].
Buckley B M, Anchukaitis K J, Penny D, Fletcher R, Cook E R, Sano M et al. (2010) Climate as a contributing factor in the demise of Angkor, Cambodia, The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 107(15), pp. 6748–6752, https:// doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0910827107
European Parliamentary Research Service (2017) Lawsuits triggered by the Volkswagen emissions case, European Parliament, Brussels.
Fasoli E (2017) The Possibilities for Nongovernmental Organizations Promoting Environmental Protection to Claim Damages in Relation to the Environment in France, Italy, the Netherlands and Portugal, Review of European, Comparative & International Environmental Law 26 (1), pp. 30–37, https://doi.org/10.1111/ reel.12187
Glavaš M (2019) Analiza 70.a člena Ustave Republike Slovenije: pravica do pitne vode, Master’s thesis, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana.
Hays S P (1986) Environmental litigation in historical perspective, University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform 19(4), pp. 969–988.
Hollo E J, Vihervuori P & Kuusiniemi K (2010) Environmental Law and Administrative Courts in Finland, Journal of Court Innovation 3(1), pp. 51–60.
Jadek Pensa D (2003) Denarna odškodnina, in: Plavšak N, Juhart M, Jadek Pensa D, Kranjc V, Grilc P, Polajnar Pavčnik A, Dolenc M, Pavčnik M (eds.) Obligacijski zakonik s komentarjem (splošni del), GV Založba, Ljubljana, pp. 1021–1045.
Johannsen B, Kotzé L J, Macchi C (2025) An empty victory? Shell v. Milieudefensie et al 2024, the legal obligations of carbon majors, and the prospects for future climate litigation action, Review of European, Comparative & International Environmental Law 34(1), pp. 270–278, https://doi.org/10.1111/reel.12604
Leijten I (2019) Human rights v. Insufficient climate action: The Urgenda case, Netherlands Quarterly of Human Rights 37(2), pp. 112–118, https://doi. org/10.1177/0924051919844375
Martin W B (1972) Private Environmental Litigation, Kentucky Bar Journal 36(1), pp. 24–32.
MMC RTVSLO (2017) Kemis mora odstraniti onesnažene usedline iz potoka Tojnica, 28 July, https://www.rtvslo.si/okolje/kemis-mora-odstraniti- onesnazene-usedline-iz-potoka-tojnica/428616 [28.07.2025].
MMC RTVSLO (2020) Kako onesnažen je še vedno vrhniški potok Tojnica?, 28 July, https://www.rtvslo.si/okolje/kako-onesnazen-je-se-vedno-vrhniski-potok- tojnica/531781 [28.07.2025].
National Geographic (2017) Angkor Wat’s Collapse From Climate Change Has Lessons for Today, National Geographic, 5 April, https://www.nationalgeographic. com/science/article/angkor-wat-civilization-collapsed-floods-drought- climate-change [21.07.2025].
Nerad S (2019) 162. člen (Postopek pred ustavnim sodiščem), in: Avbelj M (ed.) Komentar Ustave Republike Slovenije, Nova Univerza, Nova Gorica, pp. 452–460.
Penny D, Zachreson C, Fletcher R, Lau D, Lizier J, Fischer N, et al. (2018) The demise of Angkor: Systemic vulnerability of urban infrastructure to climatic variations, Science Advances 4(10), pp. 1–8, https://doi.org/10.1126/ sciadv.aau4029
Petrašević T & Poretti P (2022) The ‘Polluter Pays’ Principle: The Croatian Experience, EU and Comparative Law Issues and Challenges Series 6, pp. 3–13.
Rakar I, Tičar B & Sever T (2020) Water Protection in Slovenia: Constitutional and Administrative Law Perspectives, in: Eman K, Meško G, Segato L & Migliorini M (eds.) Water, Governance, and Crime Issues, Springer Nature, London, pp. 129–155.
Sancin V & Juhart M (2023) The Right to Safe Drinking Water in International Law and in Slovenia’s legal framework and implementation, Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Law 16(34), pp. 106–124, https://doi.org/10.21029/ JAEL.2023.34.106.
Sancin V, Pucelj Vidovič T, Kovič Dine M, Vrbica S (eds.) (2015) Odgovornost države zagotavljati pravico do čiste pitne vode, Pravna fakulteta Univerze v Ljubljani, Ljubljana.
Schumann Barragan G (2024) Civil Litigation for Environmental Damages, International Journal of Procedural Law 14, pp. 73–98.
Shavell S (1985) Uncertainty over Causation and the Determination of Civil Liability, Journal of Law & Economics 28(3), pp. 587–610.
Spaniol M J, Danilova-Jensen E, Nielse M, Gyldenkaerne Rosdahl C & Schmidt C J (2024) Defining Greenwashing: A Concept Analysis, Sustainability 16, pp. 1–17, https://doi.org/10.3390/su16209055
Szilágyi J E (2013) Vízjog – Aktuális kihívások a vizek jogi szabályozásában, Miskolci egyetemi kiadó, Miskolc.
Szilágyi J E (2016) Current challenges concerning the law of water services in Hungary, Lex et Scientia International Journal 23(1), pp. 70–82.
Szilágyi J E (2018) Vízszemléletű kormányzás – vízpolitika – vízjog: kitekintéssel a vízgazdálkodásra és a víztudományra, Miskolci egyetemi kiadó, Miskolc.
Štemberger Brizani K (2024) The Legal Dilemmas of the Drinking Water Supply in the Republic of Slovenia, Central European Academy Law Review 2(1), pp. 49–66, https://doi.org/10.62733/2024.1.49-66
Tanko G (2022) Novejše tendence na področju odškodninske odgovornosti za škodo na okolju, Master’s thesis, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana.
Tax-Fin-Lex (2025) Kolektivna odškodninska tožba zoper Apple v ponovno odločanje, 9. June, https://www.tax-fin-lex.si/Home/Novica/33277 [25.07.2025].
Varl M (2016) Elementi kaznovalne odškodnine v slovenskem pravu, Zbornik znanstvenih razprav 76(1), pp. 235–264.
Verfassungsblog (2024) Conditions of Corporate Civil Liability in the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, 28 May, https://verfassungsblog.de/ conditions-of-corporate-civil-liability-in-the-corporate-sustainability-due- diligence-directive/ [29.07.2025].
Verfassungsblog (2025) Success Without Victory: Lliuya v. RWE Decided, 1 June, https://verfassungsblog.de/lliuya-rwe-climate-judgment/ [23.07.2025].
