EUTR and Timber Legality Governance in the Forestry Sector in Slovakia: From Overlooking to Overregulating

This study examines how legal and institutional reforms associated with the European Union Timber Regulation reshaped timber legality governance in Slovakia, with particular attention to changes in actor constellations, competencies, and coordination mechanisms within the domestic forestry sector. The analysis draws on Actor-Centred Institutionalism and is based on document analysis and semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders. The results show that, although Slovakia achieved formal legal alignment and established the required institutional structures, implementation was characterised by fragmented competencies, overlapping responsibilities, and deficiencies in coordination and information exchange. While material and organisational resources were generally perceived as sufficient, these governance challenges limited the effectiveness and predictability of enforcement. These findings demonstrate that regulatory reforms may, in certain contexts, reinforce pre-existing institutional fragmentation rather than resolve it. The study provides policy-relevant insights for the ongoing transition to the European Union Deforestation Regulation, highlighting the importance of addressing coordination and institutional design at an early stage of implementation.