Regarding media reporting on the reestablishment of border control on the (internal) border with Italy, we would like to note again that the obligation to carry a valid identification document (identity card or passport) is not linked to the reintroduction of border controls. The obligation of EU citizens to carry valid identity documents stems from the so-called Directive 38.

This relates to Directive 2004/38/ES of the European Parliament and Council dated 20 April 2004 on the right of EU citizens and their family members to free movement and residence on the territory of the member states.

The above legal act of the Community sets out in the first paragraph of Article 4 that all EU citizens holding a valid identity card or passport have the right to leave the territory of a member state in order to travel into another member state. The same applies to the family members of EU citizens.

A large majority of the member states defined the non-possession of identification documents as an offence, also Slovenia.

The Aliens Act provides for a fine for EU citizens (or their family members) who enter or reside in our country without an identity card or passport (individual persons who are EU citizens, their family members or family members of Slovene nationals shall be liable to a fine of between 500 euro and 1,200 euro if they enter the Republic of Slovenia without the required entry document).