Government Adopts New Fee Ordinance
On Tuesday, December 9, 2025, the government of Liechtenstein approved a new ordinance titled 'Verordnung über die Einhebung von Gebühren im erstinstanzlichen Verwaltungsstrafverfahren' (Ordinance on the collection of fees in first-instance administrative penal proceedings). This new regulation is set to come into effect on January 1, 2026.
Context of the New Legislation
The adoption of this ordinance is a direct consequence of the 'Gesetz vom 13. Juni 2025 über das Verwaltungsstrafrecht und das Verwaltungsstrafverfahren (Verwaltungsstrafgesetz; VStG)' (Law of June 13, 2025, on Administrative Criminal Law and Administrative Criminal Procedure), which also becomes effective on January 1, 2026. This overarching law granted the government the authority to establish detailed regulations concerning fees within administrative penal proceedings through an ordinance.
Scope of the New Fees
The newly approved ordinance specifically addresses and regulates two primary types of fees within first-instance administrative penal proceedings:
- Fees for file inspection ('Akteneinsicht')
- Decision fees ('Entscheidungsgebühren')
Related Adjustments and Implementation
In conjunction with the new Administrative Criminal Law, conceptual adjustments are also being made to other existing ordinances. These include the 'Verordnung über die Einhebung von Verwaltungsgebühren durch die Landespolizei' (Ordinance on the collection of administrative fees by the National Police) and the 'Verordnung über die Einhebung von Verwaltungskosten und Gebühren durch die Regierung und Amtsstellen' (Ordinance on the collection of administrative costs and fees by the Government and official bodies). These related ordinances will likewise come into force on January 1, 2026, ensuring a harmonized legal framework.
5 Comments
Coccinella
The move towards a harmonized legal framework is positive for consistency. However, the impact on specific sectors, like regulated gambling, needs careful monitoring to avoid stifling legitimate operations with excessive charges.
Habibi
Streamlining administrative processes is a good goal, yet adding more fees could complicate things for those unfamiliar with the system. It's a fine line between efficiency and creating new hurdles.
Coccinella
Necessary for covering administrative costs. Fair for taxpayers.
Mariposa
Making legal processes more expensive. This harms transparency.
Bella Ciao
It's true that administrative procedures incur costs, and fees can help offset them. But the government must ensure these aren't just revenue generators that punish minor infringements or make challenging decisions unaffordable.