Request for the waiver of the immunity of Matej Tonin

✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 18 Sept 2026

Parliament decided to waive the immunity of Matej Tonin, a Member elected in Slovenia, at the request of the Slovenian Specialised Public Prosecutor's Office.¶¶¶ The request concerns alleged abuse of office in 2023, when Tonin was a member of the Slovenian parliamentary committee overseeing intelligence services, before he became an MEP.¶¶ Parliament found the alleged offence is not an opinion or vote cast in the performance of his duties, and found no evidence of fumus persecutionis.¶¶ The merits of the case are to be decided by the Slovenian judicial authorities under national law.¶

Key points

Parliament waives the immunity of Matej Tonin in connection with criminal proceedings to be brought against him by the Slovenian Specialised Public Prosecutor's Office.¶¶
The request was transmitted by the Slovenian Permanent Representation to the European Union and announced in Parliament on 9 March 2026.¶
Tonin was heard by the Committee on Legal Affairs on 3 June 2026 and submitted documents.¶
The alleged offences took place in 2023, when Tonin was a member of the Slovenian Parliamentary Committee for the Oversight of Intelligence and Security Services (KNOVS).¶¶
The request alleges that Tonin and three other KNOVS members abused their office by obtaining police information under the pretext of parliamentary oversight about covert wiretapping of several individuals.¶
The request alleges that on 7 November 2023 Tonin and another KNOVS member conducted unannounced checks at a Slovenian General Police Directorate headquarters and that Tonin emailed the individuals concerned saying no wiretapping had been carried out against them in 2022.¶
The request states that in February 2025 an investigating judge found reasonable grounds to believe Tonin committed the alleged offences, a conclusion upheld by a three-judge panel.¶
The alleged actions constitute abuse of office under Article 257(1) of the Slovenian Criminal Code in conjunction with Article 20(2) thereof.¶
Tonin was elected to the European Parliament in June 2024 and was not a Member at the time of the alleged offences.¶
Parliament finds the alleged offence is not an opinion expressed or a vote cast in the performance of his duties within the meaning of Article 8 of Protocol No 7.¶
Parliament finds no evidence of fumus persecutionis, meaning the proceedings do not appear intended to damage Tonin's political activity as a Member or Parliament's independence.¶
Parliament states it cannot assume the role of a court and that in a waiver procedure a Member cannot be regarded as a defendant; the merits are for the Slovenian judicial authorities.¶¶

Who is affected

Matej Tonin, Member of the European Parliament elected in Slovenia: his immunity is waived, allowing criminal proceedings against him.¶¶
The competent authority of the Republic of Slovenia: it is to receive the decision immediately.¶

Figures and deadlines

2023: year the alleged offences took place.¶
7 November 2023: date of the alleged unannounced checks and email.¶
2022: year of the alleged police surveillance of telephone users.¶
February 2025: month the investigating judge concluded there were reasonable grounds to believe the offences were committed.¶
June 2024: European elections in which Tonin was elected to the European Parliament.¶
12 February 2026: date of the letter transmitting the waiver request.¶
9 March 2026: date the request was announced in Parliament.¶
3 June 2026: date Tonin was heard by the Committee on Legal Affairs.¶

Legal basis: Articles 8 and 9 of Protocol No 7 on the Privileges and Immunities of the European Union, and Article 6(2) of the Act of 20 September 1976 concerning the election of the members of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage.¶

Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text and ¶ links to the paragraph it rests on. Check the text itself before relying on it.