AI regulation in Slovenia: laws & policy (2026)
AI in Slovenia: comprehensive law.
Slovenia is fully bound by the EU AI Act (Regulation (EU) 2024/1689), which entered into force on 1 August 2024 and is progressively applicable through 2026-2028. To give the EU Regulation domestic effect, Slovenia enacted ZIUDHPUI in November 2025, designating AKOS as the single point of contact, lead market surveillance authority, and regulatory-sandbox operator, with several sector-specific co-authorities. A National AI Programme 2030 was submitted for public consultation in late 2025 to replace the 2021-2025 strategy.
Legal framework
EU AI Act (Regulation (EU) 2024/1689), directly applicable; national implementing act ZIUDHPUI (Zakon o izvajanju Uredbe (EU) o določitvi harmoniziranih pravil o umetni inteligenci) in force from 21 November 2025; primary national competent authority: AKOS (Agency for Communication Networks and Services)
The EU AI Act in Slovenia
In Slovenia, artificial intelligence is governed by the EU AI Act, the first comprehensive AI law, which applies directly as an EU regulation.
- Framework
- the EU AI Act (Regulation (EU) 2024/1689)
- Approach
- risk-based: unacceptable-risk AI is banned, high-risk AI faces strict duties, limited-risk AI has transparency rules
- General-purpose AI
- transparency duties for all GPAI models; systemic-risk models add safety and evaluation obligations
- Timeline
- phased: prohibitions from Feb 2025, GPAI rules from Aug 2025, most high-risk obligations from Aug 2026
- Maximum fine
- €35 million or 7% of global annual turnover for prohibited-AI breaches
- Oversight
- national market-surveillance authorities, coordinated by the EU AI Office
The AI Act is an EU regulation applied directly in Slovenia; national market-surveillance authorities handle enforcement.
Key points: artificial intelligence in Slovenia
EU AI Act baseline
Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 entered into force 1 August 2024. Prohibited-AI-practices rules and AI-literacy obligations applied from 2 February 2025; GPAI-model obligations from 2 August 2025; full high-risk obligations from 2 August 2026; embedded high-risk systems transition until 2 August 2028.
National implementing act (ZIUDHPUI)
Slovenia's Act on the Implementation of the EU AI Regulation (ZIUDHPUI) entered into force on 21 November 2025. It designates competent authorities, sets procedural rules, establishes fines for minor offences, provides for a national AI ethics council, regulatory sandboxes, and a public register, and organises outreach for SMEs and public authorities.
AKOS as lead national authority
The Agency for Communication Networks and Services (AKOS) serves as Slovenia's national single point of contact, primary market surveillance authority, and competent authority for regulatory sandboxes under the AI Act. It maintains the register of high-risk AI systems in critical infrastructure and is required to establish the first regulatory sandbox by 2 August 2026.
Sector-specific market surveillance authorities
In addition to AKOS, ZIUDHPUI designates the Information Commissioner, the Bank of Slovenia, the Insurance Supervision Agency, and the Market Inspectorate as sector-specific market surveillance authorities. Notifying-authority functions are split across the Ministries of Economy, Infrastructure, Health, and Digital Transformation, as well as the Public Agency for Medicinal Products.
National AI Programme 2030 (draft)
In November 2025 the Slovenian government submitted a draft National AI Programme 2030 for public consultation, succeeding the 2021 National Programme to Promote the Development and Use of AI by 2025 (NpAI) which foresaw €112 million in investment including ~€65 million from the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility.
National Ethics Council for AI
ZIUDHPUI mandates establishment of a National Council for Ethics in Artificial Intelligence and requires training programmes for public officials on AI literacy, reflecting the AI Act's Article 4 AI-literacy obligation applied at national level.
The EU AI Act in Slovenia: FAQ
Does the EU AI Act apply in Slovenia?
Yes. As an EU member, Slovenia is covered by the EU AI Act (Regulation (EU) 2024/1689), which applies directly.
What does the EU AI Act regulate in Slovenia?
It uses a risk-based approach: unacceptable-risk AI is banned, high-risk AI faces strict obligations, and general-purpose AI models carry transparency duties.
When does the EU AI Act take effect in Slovenia?
It is phased: prohibitions applied from February 2025, general-purpose-AI rules from August 2025, and most high-risk obligations from August 2026.
What are the penalties under the EU AI Act in Slovenia?
Up to €35 million or 7% of global annual turnover for breaching the prohibited-AI rules, with lower tiers for other breaches.
Sources
- eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1689/oj/eng
- digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/regulatory-framework-ai
- regulations.ai/regulations/RAI-SI-NA-ZOIUEXX-2025
- jadek-pensa.si/en/kaj-prinasa-zakon-o-izvajanju-akta-o-umetni-inteligenci/
- telecompaper.com/news/slovenias-akos-to-lead-ai-regulation--1571525
- akos-rs.si/en/umetna-inteligenca/raziscite/general
- cms.law/en/int/expert-guides/ai-regulation-scanner/slovenia
- nio.gov.si/nio/asset/nacionalni+program+spodbujanja+razvoja+in+uporabe+umetne+in
- ai-watch.ec.europa.eu/countries/slovenia/slovenia-ai-strategy-report_en
- regulations.ai/regulations/RAI-SI-NA-SUMMARY-2026
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