Slovenia and EU Accession - The Balkans

In light of our class excursion to Slovenia and after having met with important representatives from the political and economic sectors, this essay will discuss Slovenia’s potential as a bridge between the European Union and the former Yugoslavian countries. Historically, this is not a new role for Slovenia; in the time of Charlemagne it was the eastern most border of the empire, and much later was the western most border of the communist empire. The territory of Slovenia sits at the intersection of Germanic, Romanic, and Slavic nations. Over the centuries, this area has experienced extensive war, occupation, ethnic division, and nationalism. Consequently, Slovenia is a vital link to a historically unstable region. As the former prime minister explained:

Slovenia is one of the bridges to the unstable Balkan region and can use its neighboring position and political experience to contribute to the lasting stabilization, normalization and general development of the Region.¹

However, Slovenia must be careful not to allow EU membership to be seen as a step towards dissociation with this region, which would have implications on trade, security, and political relationships. The south and eastern borders of Slovenia will become EU borders, with implications on the movement of goods and people between Slovenia and the Balkan region.

Slovenia has always had close ties to Western Europe. The country was never part of the Iron Curtain and remained more liberalized than the other former communist block nations. Since its conception in 1991, Slovenia has pushed steadily for integration with Western Europe and the EU. It is the opinion of Slovenia that the best way to address issues is at the multinational level and looks forward to contributing to NATO and to European CFSP.²

Simultaneously, Slovenia has a special relationship with the east as well. Slovenia sees these nations to be “part of the European family”.³ Accordingly, Slovenia looks forward to, and intends to push for the eventual integration of these nations into the EU. Slovenia is the biggest investor country in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with over 400 companies on the market, and fully supports the membership of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Council of Europe. Since January 1999, Slovenia has provided military police for the Italian-led Multinational Specialized Unit (MSU) in Sarajevo. The latest initiative has been the International Trust Fund for Demining and Humanitarian Assistance in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which will finance up to $56 million in mine removal and victim rehabilitation services in the region.⁴

However, in negotiations Slovenia removed the request for a transitional period in preserving the free-trade agreements with Macedonia and Croatia, and the special preferential agreement with Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Slovenian government explained this foregoing because last year,

the EU decided on a more active policy in stabilizing conditions in the region [of former Yugoslavia]. Besides activities in the Stability Pact, it started making stabilisation and accession agreements with countries in the area of former Yugoslavia. The Slovenian Government regards these agreements as a guarantee for a gradual liberalisation of trade between the countries even after the EU accession, and as a frame within which Slovenia will assert its interests also as a member.⁵

Therefore, Slovenia hopes to quickly re-liberalize trade with the former Yugoslav nations once it joins the EU.

In all of our discussions with Slovenian representatives, there was a general sense of importance regarding the special role of Slovenia as a bridge between the EU and the Balkans. Indeed, Slovenia deserves credit in this regard. It is my belief that as a EU member, Slovenia will continue to contribute greatly to the stabilization and development of the region.

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