Imposition of fines by Slovenian police on Croatian territory

30.1.2018

Question for written answer E-000515-18
to the Commission
Rule 130
Ivan Jakovčić (ALDE) , Jozo Radoš (ALDE)

On the basis of an arbitration ruling concerning the Croatian-Slovenian border, which Croatia does not recognise — having withdrawn from the arbitration procedure on account of wrongdoing by the Slovenian authorities and unauthorised contacts with judges — the Slovenian police have started issuing fine notices to Croatian fishermen. The reason is that Slovenia has begun to implement the border ruling, claiming that the fishermen are on Slovenian territory, even though the border cannot be redrawn without the agreement of both of the two countries. Croatian fishermen have already started receiving fine notices sent to their homes. Given that the Slovenian police are fining Croatian fishermen for fishing in a maritime zone constituting Croatian national territory, and which could not be made part of Slovenian waters unless Croatia agreed to this:

How does the Commission view the attempt by the authorities of one Member State, namely Slovenia, to impose fines in the lawful territory of another Member State, namely Croatia?