Slovenia: Ready for a Long Time Already

Slovenia has a history of democracy and relative prosperity. It looks little different from Austria and is essentially western. The urban young are becoming as educated, cool and computer-literate as their western neighbors.

Settling the financial terms of entry has been the main problem in negotiations. Because it's comparatively prosperous, Slovenia risks contributing more to the European Union budget than it gets out. Under EU rules, the budget must be paid from the first month, although aid will not be released for a year or more after joining.

The costs could be severe for a relatively wealthy candidate like Slovenia. "Slovenia cannot be worse off after accession than it is before," says Janez Potocnik, the country’s chief negotiator. It will have to protect 15 per cent of the enlarged EU's outer border and therefore spend more on border protection than any other new member, according to Potocnik.

The EU has pledged that no country suffers financially as a result of joining the union. But the details are hard to calculate.

One of the best prepared

Of all the candidates for EU entry, Slovenia is economically the one best prepared for membership. It was already the most westward-looking of the Yugoslav Federation, so it was easier for it to switch trade to the west.

Now, over two-thirds of that trade is with the European Union and over a third is with Germany and Austria. The country has grown steadily, at twice the rate of the EU average for the past five years. Its income per person is easily the highest in the ex-communist world.

Elections for a veteran, pro-West leader

At present, Slovenia is in the middle of presidential elections. The long-standing Prime Minister, Janez Drnovsek, won most votes in the first round, but failed to gain an overall majority. The second round ballot will be held on December 1.

Drnovsek is one of Europe’s longest-serving prime ministers, having won three general elections in a row. His steady policy of growth and stability has done a lot to keep Slovenia out of trouble.

The challenger, Barbara Brezigar, is the first conservative candidate to get 30 per cent in any recent election. She has also pledged to stay on course for growth and EU accession. Both politicians are presenting themselves as candidates of the center.

Support for EU membership is above 60 per cent in Slovenia. It has long been ready for EU membership. Not bad, after only 11 years of independence.