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eli-container"> COMMISSION DECISION of 15 July 2026 on the compatibility with Union law of measures to be taken by Slovenia pursuant to Article 14(1) of Directive 2010/13/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council (C/2026/4256) THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Having regard to Directive 2010/13/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 March 2010 on the coordination of certain provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action in Member States concerning the provision of audiovisual media services (Audiovisual Media Services Directive) ( 1 ) , and in particular Article 14(2) thereof, Whereas: (1) By letter dated 15 April 2026, Slovenia notified to the Commission certain measures that Slovenia was intending to take, pursuant to Article 14(1) of Directive 2010/13/EU and with the aim of updating and amending the measures currently in force in Slovenia. The measures are additional to the measures currently in force and establish a supplemenatry list of designated events ( 2 ) national or non-national, which Slovenia considers to be of major importance for its society. (2) The Commission verified that the measures set out in the letter dated 15 April 2026 are compatible with Union law, in particular as regards their proportionality and the transparency of the national consultation procedure that had been carried out. (3) In examining those measures, the Commission took into consideration the available data on the Slovenian audiovisual market, in particular as regards the impact of such measures on the television market. (4) On the basis of detailed evidence and viewing figures provided by the Slovenian authorities, the Commission assessed whether each additional event included in the list meets at least two of the following four criteria, which the Commission considers to be reliable indicators of the importance of certain events for society: (i) the event concerned has a special general resonance within the Member State and its significance is not limited to those who ordinarily follow the sport or activity concerned; (ii) the event concerned has a generally recognised and distinct cultural importance for the Member State’s population, particularly as a catalyst of cultural identity; (iii) the national team is involved in the sport concerned in a major international competition or tournament; and (iv) the event concerned has traditionally been broadcast on free-to-air television and has commanded large television audiences in the Member State. (5) The Summer and Winter Olympic Games, where involving the participation of the Slovenian national team or one or more Slovenian athletes, are considered to be events of major importance for society, as they have a special general resonance within Slovenia and their significance is not limited to those who ordinarily follow Olympic disciplines. Furthermore, they have traditionally been broadcast on free-to-air television and have commanded large television audiences in Slovenia. (6) The men’s FIFA World Cup – including all matches played by the Slovenian national team, the opening match, the semi-finals, the third-place match and the final – are considered to be events of major importance for society. Those matches have a special general resonance within Slovenia and their significance is not limited to those who ordinarily follow football. In addition, they have traditionally been broadcast on free-to-air television and have commanded large television audiences in Slovenia. (7) All qualifying matches for the men’s FIFA World Cup that involve the Slovenian national team are considered to be events of major importance for society. They have a special general resonance within Slovenia and their significance is not limited to those who ordinarily follow football. Furthermore, they involve the participation of the national team in the qualifying matches for a major international tournament. In addition, they have traditionally been broadcast on free-to-air television and have commanded large television audiences. (8) The men’s UEFA European Championship – including all matches played by the Slovenian national team, the opening match, the semi-finals and the final – are considered to be events of major importance for society. They have a special general resonance within Slovenia and their significance is not limited to those who ordinarily follow football. In addition, they have traditionally been broadcast on free-to-air television and have commanded large television audiences in Slovenia. (9) All qualifying matches for the men’s UEFA European Championship that involve the Slovenian national team are considered to be events of major importance for society. They have a special general resonance within Slovenia and their significance is not limited to those who ordinarily follow football. Furthermore, they involve the participation of the national team in the qualifying matches for a major international tournament. In addition, they have traditionally been broadcast on free-to-air television and have commanded large television audiences in Slovenia. (10) Where involving the participation of Slovenian clubs, matches in the men’s UEFA Champions League are considered to be events of major importance for society. They have a special general resonance within Slovenia and their significance is not limited to those who ordinarily follow football. In addition, they have traditionally been broadcast on free-to-air television and have commanded large television audiences in Slovenia. (11) Where involving the participation of Slovenian clubs, knockout-stage matches in the men’s UEFA Europa League are considered to be events of major importance for society. They have a special general resonance within Slovenia and their significance is not limited to those who ordinarily follow football. In addition, they have traditionally been broadcast on free-to-air television and have commanded large television audiences in Slovenia. (12) The FIS Alpine World Ski Championships, the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships and the FIS Ski Flying World Championships are considered to be events of major importance for society, given Slovenia’s long-standing skiing tradition and the regular participation and success of Slovenian athletes in these disciplines. Those events have a special general resonance within Slovenia and their significance is not limited to those who ordinarily follow ski sports. In addition, they have traditionally been broadcast on free-to-air television and have commanded large television audiences in Slovenia. (13) The FIS Alpine Ski World Cup and FIS Ski Jumping World Cup competitions are considered to be events of major importance for society, given Slovenia’s long-standing skiing tradition and the regular participation and success of Slovenian athletes in these disciplines. They have a special general resonance within Slovenia and their significance is not limited to those who ordinarily follow ski sports. In addition, they have traditionally been broadcast on free-to-air television and have commanded large television audiences in Slovenia. (14) The IBU Biathlon World Championships are considered to be events of major importance for society, given Slovenia’s strong tradition in winter sports and the regular participation and success of Slovenian athletes in international biathlon competitions. They have a special general resonance within Slovenia and their significance is not limited to those who ordinarily follow biathlon. In addition, they have traditionally been broadcast on free-to-air television and have commanded large television audiences in Slovenia. (15) IBU Biathlon World Cup competitions are considered to be events of major importance for society, given the established role of Pokljuka as a regular venue for IBU Biathlon World Cup competitions and the regular participation and success of Slovenian biathletes. They have a special general resonance within Slovenia and their significance is not limited to those who ordinarily follow biathlon. In addition, they have traditionally been broadcast on free-to-air television and have commanded large television audiences in Slovenia. (16) All world cup competitions in other winter sports (FIS) held in Slovenia are considered to be events of major importance for society, given Slovenia’s recognised tradition in Nordic skiing and other FIS winter sports and the organisation of World Cup competitions in these disciplines at Slovenian venues.. They have a special general resonance within Slovenia and their significance is not limited to those who ordinarily follow ski and winter sports. In addition, they have traditionally been broadcast on free-to-air television and have commanded large television audiences in Slovenia. (17) All matches played by the Slovenian national team in the men’s Basketball World Cup are considered to be events of major importance for society. They have a special general resonance within Slovenia and their significance is not limited to those who ordinarily follow basketball. Furthermore, they involve the participation of the national team in a major international tournament. In addition, they have traditionally been broadcast on free-to-air television and have commanded large television audiences in Slovenia. (18) All matches played by the Slovenian national team in the men’s Basketball European Championship are considered to be events of major importance for society. They have a special general resonance within Slovenia and their significance is not limited to who ordinarily follow basketball. Furthermore, they involve the participation of the national team in a major international tournament. In addition, they have traditionally been broadcast on free-to-air television and have commanded very large television audiences in Slovenia. (19) All matches played by the Slovenian national teams in the men’s and women’s Handball World Championships are considered to be events of major importance for society. They have a special general resonance within Slovenia and their significance is not limited to those who ordinarily follow handball. Furthermore, they involve the participation of the national team in a major international tournament. In addition, they have traditionally been broadcast on free-to-air television and have commanded large television audiences in Slovenia. (20) All matches played by the Slovenian national teams in the men’s and women’s Handball European Championships are considered to be events of major importance for society. They have a special general resonance within Slovenia and their significance is not limited to those who ordinarily follow handball. Furthermore, they involve the participation of the national team in a major international tournament. In addition, they have traditionally been broadcast on free-to-air television and have commanded large television audiences in Slovenia. (21) All matches played by the Slovenian national team in the men’s Volleyball European Championship are considered to be events of major importance for society. They have a special general resonance within Slovenia and their significance is not limited to those who ordinarily follow volleyball. Furthermore, they involve the participation of the national team in a major international tournament. In addition, they have traditionally been broadcast on free-to-air television and have commanded large television audiences in Slovenia. (22) Where involving the participation of one or more Slovenian cyclists, the UCI Road World Championships Elite Road Race as well as in the final parts of stages and the closing stage of the Tour of Slovenia, these events are considered to be events of major importance for society. They have a special general resonance within Slovenia and their significance is not limited to those who ordinarily follow cycling. In addition, they have traditionally been broadcast on free-to-air television and have commanded large television audiences in Slovenia. (23) Where involving the participation of one or more Slovenian cyclists, the final parts of stages and the closing stage of the Tour de France, these events are considered to be events of major importance for society. They have a special general resonance within Slovenia and their significance is not limited to those who ordinarily follow cycling. In addition, they have traditionally been broadcast on free-to-air television and have commanded large television audiences in Slovenia. (24) In accordance with the principle of proportionality set out in Article 5 of the Treaty on European Union, the measures notified by Slovenia do not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve the objective pursued, namely the protection of the right to information and a wide access of the public to television coverage of events, national or non-national, which Slovenia considers to be of major importance for society, taking into account: (i) the arrangements according to which the events concerned are to be broadcast; (ii) the definition of a qualifying broadcaster contained in Article 34 of the Slovenian Media Act, which requires the relevant television channel to be available to at least 75 % of the population of Slovenia; (iii) the role of the Agency for Communication Networks and Services of the Republic of Slovenia in the resolution of disputes; and (iv) the fact that existing exclusive broadcasting contracts are protected through transitional arrangements that allow broadcasting rights to continue until the expiry of the relevant contract, but for no longer than three years after the entry into force of the amended list. As a result, the effects of the designation of additional events on the right to property, as laid down in Article 17 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, do not go beyond the effects that are intrinsically linked to the inclusion of those events in the list referred to in Article 14 of Directive 2010/13/EU. (25) For similar reasons, the Slovenian notified measures appear to be proportionate and to justify a derogation from the freedom to provide services, as laid down in Article 56 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. The overriding public interest justifying that derogation is to ensure a wide access of the public to broadcasts of events, national or non-national, which Slovenia considers to be of major importance for society. In addition, those measures do not constitute any discrimination or market foreclosure against other Member States’ broadcasters, right holders or other economic operators. (26) The measures to be taken are compatible with Union competition rules. The definition of qualifying broadcaster in the Slovenian Media Act is based on objective criteria, which allow actual and potential competition for acquiring the rights to broadcast the events. In addition, the number of designated events is not such that it would distort competition in the downstream free-to-air and pay television markets. Therefore, the effects of the designation of additional events on freedom of competition do not go beyond those which are intrinsically linked to the inclusion of those events in the list referred to in Article 14 of Directive 2010/13/EU. (27) The Commission communicated the measures to be taken by Slovenia to the other Member States and presented the results of the assessment of those measures to the contact committee established by Article 29 of Directive 2010/13/EU. That committee adopted a favourable opinion. HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: Sole Article 1. The measures to be taken by Slovenia, pursuant to Article 14(1) of Directive 2010/13/EU, notified to the Commission in accordance with Article 14(2) of that Directive on 17 April 2026, are compatible with Union law. 2. The measures referred to in paragraph 1, as taken by Slovenia, shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union . Done at Brussels, 15 July 2026. For the Commission Henna VIRKKUNEN Executive Vice-President ( 1 ) OJ L 95, 15.4.2010, p. 1 , ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2010/13/oj . ( 2 ) Decision of 17 September 2022 establishing the list of major events for television coverage, Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, No. 120/22 and No 104/25 (available at: https://pisrs.si/pregledPredpisa?id=SKLE12944 ), not notified to the Commission pursuant to Article 14(2) of Directive 2010/13/EU. ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2026/4256/oj ISSN 1977-091X (electronic edition)