The Legal Position of the National Review Commission: Why is the Judicial Protection Against its Decisions Being Limited?

The National Review Commission is a distinct, independent, and autonomous state body occupying two seemingly incompatible roles: it functions as a court or tribunal under Article 267 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, while also acting as a mere supervisory body within the Slovenian legal order. Case-law have delineated these dual roles, firstly through the case-law of the Court of Justice of the European Union and secondly via the settled case-law of domestic courts. From this perspective, the necessity for judicial oversight is neither imperative nor mandated. In terms of legal certainty, such a scenario is less than ideal. Amendment C of the Legal Protection in Public Procurement Procedures Act introduces a form of judicial oversight that is commensurate with the remit of the National Review Commission. This ap- plies particularly when the Commission, as a state authority exercising its legal powers (ex iure imperii), adjudicates on the rights and legal interests of revi- sion applicants. The introduction of (limited) administrative dispute demon- strates the recognized need for judicial oversight. However, a review of the jurisdiction of the administrative court in administrative dispute proceedings under the Legal Protection in Public Procurement Procedures Act, reveals that the ultimate solution does not adequately ensure effective judicial protection.

Key words: National Review Commission, administrative act, acta iure imperii, acta iure gestionis, sui generis legal authority.