Transit Slovenia now from 30 August with 3-G rule: The “Punch and Judy show” of the Slovenians goes into the next round

What Slovenia’s government is doing regarding the regulation of transit through Slovenia this summer is probably best described by the term “Punch and Judy show”. Again and again, they announce to Croatia vacationers from the rest of Europe, they have to show a valid test before returning from Croatia when transiting through Slovenia, i.e. when returning from a Croatia vacation, if they are not vaccinated or recovered from COVID-19. Only about 24 hours before this regulation comes into force, another suspension of the regulation by one week takes place with nice regularity, only to start the same game again afterwards. With Croatia vacationers this provides for not insignificant uncertainty and clouds with beautiful regularity the vacation joy on the last days.

It was not until this Saturday, August 21, 2021, that the Slovenian government’s website announced that the new transit regulation would not come into force until August 29, 2021. Or, to make it clear once again: Only those who want to drive through Slovenia on August 30 from 00:00 must be vaccinated, recovered or tested. Whether this is still valid on August 29, 2021, the SeaHelp editors are not yet able to predict, since in the case of Slovenia the much-cited crystal ball is clouded.

Only Slovenia restricts transit

Let’s keep in mind: currently, Slovenia would be the only country in Europe that even for transit, which, for example, from Istria takes no longer than 30 minutes on congestion-free roads, not only requires a Corona test, but also additionally about 15 euros in tolls and thus even now is one of the most expensive toll routes in Europe.

Envious of Croatia’s guests?

But that’s not all: the regulations surrounding the transit tangle are now sprouting strange blossoms that could at least give the impression that Slovenia doesn’t begrudge the Croatians the multitude of vacationers who only cross the country by the fastest route to enjoy their vacations on the Croatian Adriatic.

Chronology of Slovenia transit mess

Once again, here is the chronology of events, which is easily forgotten in our fast-moving times:

1. On 13. July, SeaHelp reported that due to a new Slovenian decree, all those using transit through Slovenia who have not been vaccinated or recovered from COVID-19 must present an appropriate antigen or PCR test for transit. By July 14, 2021, this regulation was already moot, and the measure was suspended until August 15.
2. On August 14, then again at very short notice the role backwards: the testing requirement for Slovenia transit was again postponed by a week, it should now begin with August 23, 2021, as SeaHelp reported.
3. And because that still wasn’t enough, a message dated 8/20/2021, published on 8/21/2021, took place on the Slovenian government’s homepage that the transit regime for Slovenia had been postponed yet again by one week, now to 8/30/2021.
4. What will happen on Aug. 29, 2021, one day before the current extension expires, is still up in the air.

Croatia vacationers week after week unsettled

Only what does this mean in concrete terms for the many Croatia vacationers who arrived in their own cars? Austrians who do not comply with the 3-G rule would not have the opportunity to carry out a test in their own country after returning from vacation if Slovenia’s regulation, which was repeatedly threatened and then not implemented, came into force. And Germans returning home from a vacation in Croatia would have to show a valid test when entering Germany if they are not vaccinated or have not recovered, but could also have it done at a test center in Austria, for example. By the new regulation, which has not yet come into force, but only threatened, Croatia vacationers would thus virtually lose half a day of vacation.

With positive test one may travel through

Slovenia, however, curiously allows an exception: “For persons not residing in Slovenia, an exception applies if they declare upon entry that they have tested positive for Covid-19 or show signs of Covid-19 infection. They are allowed transit through Slovenia even if they do not meet the RVT requirement (recovered/vaccinated/tested), provided they follow the recommendations of the National Institute of Public Health, travel without stopovers and by their own means of transport, and can clearly prove that the reason for their entry is transit through Slovenia,” as stated on the Homepage of Slovenian Police/Ministry of Interior can still be read. We translated it. Here the date of the extension of the entry requirements has also not yet been changed on 21.8.2021.

Now also “enterslovenia”

And optionally, so not mandatory, you can also register on the page “Entering Slovenia“, also for transit. What this will bring, only the future will probably show.

Clear measures would be desirable in the future

Incidentally, Slovenia currently holds the presidency of the Council of the European Union. Whether such measures, which repeatedly unsettle and unnecessarily burden EU citizens, help to improve the country’s image is something everyone may decide for themselves. In any case, however, one might expect Slovenia to move forward with clear and unambiguous measures right now and not issue dubious regulations that unsettle EU citizens instead of helping them.