Slovenia

Slovenia

Introduction

Background

The Slovene lands were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until the latter’s dissolution at the end of World War I. In 1918, the Slovenes joined the Serbs and Croats in forming a new multinational state, which was named Yugoslavia in 1929. After World War II, Slovenia became a republic of the renewed Yugoslavia, which though Communist, distanced itself from Moscow’s rule. Dissatisfied with the exercise of power by the majority Serbs, the Slovenes succeeded in establishing their independence in 1991 after a short 10-day war. Historical ties to Western Europe, a strong economy, and a stable democracy have assisted in Slovenia’s transformation to a modern state. Slovenia acceded to both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004

it joined the eurozone in 2007.

Geography

Location

south Central Europe, Julian Alps between Austria and Croatia

Geographic coordinates

46 07 N, 14 49 E

Map references

Europe

Area

total: 20,273 sq km
country comparison to the world: 155 land:20,151 sq km
water:122 sq km

Area – comparative

slightly smaller than New Jersey

Land boundaries

total: 1,086 km
border countries:Austria 330 km, Croatia 455 km, Hungary 102 km, Italy 199 km

Coastline

46.6 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate

Mediterranean climate on the coast, continental climate with mild to hot summers and cold winters in the plateaus and valleys to the east

Terrain

a short coastal strip on the Adriatic, an alpine mountain region adjacent to Italy and Austria, mixed mountains and valleys with numerous rivers to the east

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
highest point:Triglav 2,864 m

Natural resources

lignite coal, lead, zinc, building stone, hydropower, forests

Land use

arable land: 8.53%
permanent crops:1.43%
other:90.04% (2005)

Irrigated land

100 sq km (2008)

Total renewable water resources

32.1 cu km (2005)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.9
per capita:457cu m/yr (2002)

Natural hazards

flooding

earthquakes

Environment – current issues

Sava River polluted with domestic and industrial waste

pollution of coastal waters with heavy metals and toxic chemicals

forest damage near Koper from air pollution (originating at metallurgical and chemical plants) and resulting acid rain

Environment – international agreements

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:none of the selected agreements

Geography – note

despite its small size, this eastern Alpine country controls some of Europe’s major transit routes

People and Society

Nationality

noun: Slovene(s)
adjective:Slovenian

Ethnic groups

Slovene 83.1%, Serb 2%, Croat 1.8%, Bosniak 1.1%, other or unspecified 12% (2002 census)

Languages

Slovenian (official) 91.1%, Serbo-Croatian 4.5%, other or unspecified 4.4%, Italian (official, only in municipalities where Italian national communities reside, Hungarian (official, only in municipalities where Hungarian national communities reside (2002 census)

Religions

Catholic 57.8%, Muslim 2.4%, Orthodox 2.3%, other Christian 0.9%, unaffiliated 3.5%, other or unspecified 23%, none 10.1% (2002 census)

Population

2,000,092 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146

Age structure

0-14 years: 13.4% (male 138,604/female 130,337)
15-64 years:69.8% (male 703,374/female 692,640)
65 years and over:16.8% (male 132,069/female 203,068) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 42.4 years
male:40.7 years
female:44.1 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.163% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209

Birth rate

8.85 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212

Death rate

10.87 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40

Net migration rate

0.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65

Urbanization

urban population: 50% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:0.2% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

LJUBLJANA (capital) 260,000 (2009)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.066 male(s)/female
under 15 years:1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years:1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.65 male(s)/female
total population:0.95 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality rate

18 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 128

Infant mortality rate

total: 4.17 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 197 male:4.71 deaths/1,000 live births
female:3.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 77.3 years
country comparison to the world: 62 male:73.64 years
female:81.2 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.3 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208

Health expenditures

9.1% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 42

Physicians density

2.473 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
country comparison to the world: 54

Hospital bed density

4.7 beds/1,000 population (2008)
country comparison to the world: 44

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 99% of population
total: 99% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population
rural: 1% of population
total: 1% of population (2008)

Sanitation facility access

improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population (2008)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

fewer than 1,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140

HIV/AIDS – deaths

fewer than 100 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132

Obesity – adult prevalence rate

15% (2001)
country comparison to the world: 37

Education expenditures

5.2% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 51

Literacy

definition: NA
total population:99.7%
male:99.7%
female:99.6% (2000 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 17 years
male:16 years
female:18 years (2008)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 13.6%
country comparison to the world: 84 male:13.8%
female:13.4% (2009)

Government

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Slovenia
conventional short form:Slovenia
local long form:Republika Slovenija
local short form:Slovenija
former:People’s Republic of Slovenia, Socialist Republic of Slovenia

Government type

parliamentary republic

Capital

name: Ljubljana
geographic coordinates:46 03 N, 14 31 E
time difference:UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time:+1hr, begins last Sunday in March

ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions

200 municipalities (obcine, singular – obcina) and 11 urban municipalities (mestne obcine, singular – mestna obcina)
municipalities:Ajdovscina, Apace, Beltinci, Benedikt, Bistrica ob Sotli, Bled, Bloke, Bohinj, Borovnica, Bovec, Braslovce, Brda, Brezice, Brezovica, Cankova, Cerklje na Gorenjskem, Cerknica, Cerkno, Cerkvenjak, Cirkulane, Crensovci, Crna na Koroskem, Crnomelj, Destrnik, Divaca, Dobje, Dobrepolje, Dobrna, Dobrova-Polhov Gradec, Dobrovnik/Dobronak, Dolenjske Toplice, Dol pri Ljubljani, Domzale, Dornava, Dravograd, Duplek, Gorenja Vas-Poljane, Gorisnica, Gorje, Gornja Radgona, Gornji Grad, Gornji Petrovci, Grad, Grosuplje, Hajdina, Hoce-Slivnica, Hodos, Horjul, Hrastnik, Hrpelje-Kozina, Idrija, Ig, Ilirska Bistrica, Ivancna Gorica, Izola/Isola, Jesenice, Jezersko, Jursinci, Kamnik, Kanal, Kidricevo, Kobarid, Kobilje, Kocevje, Komen, Komenda, Kosanjevica na Krki, Kostel, Kozje, Kranjska Gora, Krizevci, Krsko, Kungota, Kuzma, Lasko, Lenart, Lendava/Lendva, Litija, Ljubno, Ljutomer, Log-Dragomer, Logatec, Loska Dolina, Loski Potok, Lovrenc na Pohorju, Luce, Lukovica, Majsperk, Makole, Markovci, Medvode, Menges, Metlika, Mezica, Miklavz na Dravskem Polju, Miren-Kostanjevica, Mirna, Mirna Pec, Mislinja, Mokronog-Trebelno, Moravce, Moravske Toplice, Mozirje, Muta, Naklo, Nazarje, Odranci, Oplotnica, Ormoz, Osilnica, Pesnica, Piran/Pirano, Pivka, Podcetrtek, Podlehnik, Podvelka, Poljcane, Polzela, Postojna, Prebold, Preddvor, Prevalje, Puconci, Race-Fram, Radece, Radenci, Radlje ob Dravi, Radovljica, Ravne na Koroskem, Razkrizje, Recica ob Savinji, Rence-Vogrsko, Ribnica, Ribnica na Pohorju, Rogaska Slatina, Rogasovci, Rogatec, Ruse, Selnica ob Dravi, Semic, Sevnica, Sezana, Slovenska Bistrica, Slovenske Konjice, Sodrazica, Solcava, Sredisce ob Dravi, Starse, Straza, Sveta Ana, Sveta Trojica v Slovenskih Goricah, Sveti Andraz v Slovenskih Goricah, Sveti Jurij ob Scavnici, Sveti Jurij v Slovenskih Goricah, Sveti Tomaz, Salovci, Sempeter-Vrtojba, Sencur, Sentilj, Sentjernej, Sentjur, Sentrupert, Skocjan, Skofja Loka, Skofljica, Smarje pri Jelsah, Smarjeske Toplice, Smartno ob Paki, Smartno pri Litiji, Sostanj, Store, Tabor, Tisina, Tolmin, Trbovlje, Trebnje, Trnovska Vas, Trzic, Trzin, Turnisce, Velika Polana, Velike Lasce, Verzej, Videm, Vipava, Vitanje, Vodice, Vojnik, Vransko, Vrhnika, Vuzenica, Zagorje ob Savi, Zalec, Zavrc, Zelezniki, Zetale, Ziri, Zirovnica, Zrece, Zuzemberk
urban municipalities:Celje, Koper-Capodistria, Kranj, Ljubljana, Maribor, Murska Sobota, Nova Gorica, Novo Mesto, Ptuj, Slovenj Gradec, Velenje

Independence

25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)

National holiday

Independence Day/Statehood Day, 25 June (1991)

Constitution

adopted 23 December 1991, amended 14 July 1997 and 25 July 2000

Legal system

civil law system

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration

accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age, 16 if employed

universal

Executive branch

chief of state: President Danilo TURK (since 22 December 2007)
head of government:Prime Minister Borut PAHOR (since 7 November 2008)
cabinet:Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and elected by the National Assembly
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections:president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term)

election last held on 21 October and 11 November 2007 (next to be held on 8 October 2012)

following National Assembly elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition usually nominated to become prime minister by the president and elected by the National Assembly
election results:Danilo TURK elected president

percent of vote – Danilo TURK 68.2%, Alojze PETERLE 31.8%

Borut PAHOR elected prime minister by National Assembly vote

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament consists of a National Council or Drzavni Svet (40 seats

members indirectly elected by an electoral college to serve five-year terms

note – this is primarily an advisory body with limited legislative powers

it may propose laws, ask to review any National Assembly decision, and call national referenda) and the National Assembly or Drzavni Zbor (90 seats

40 members directly elected and 50 are elected on a proportional basis

note – the number of directly elected and proportionally elected seats varies with each election

the constitution mandates 1 seat each for Slovenia’s Hungarian and Italian minorities

members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections:National Assembly – last held on 21 September 2008 (next to be held on 4 December 2011)
election results:percent of vote by party – SD 30.5%, SDS 29.3%, ZARES 9.4%, DeSUS 7.5%, SNS 5.5%, SLS+SMS 5.2%, LDS 5.2%, other 7.4%

seats by party – SD 29, SDS 28, ZARES 9, DeSUS 7, SNS 5, SLS+SMS 5, LDS 5, Hungarian minority 1, Italian minority 1

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (judges are elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the Judicial Council)

Constitutional Court (judges elected for nine-year terms by the National Assembly and nominated by the president)

Political parties and leaders

Democratic Party of Pensioners of Slovenia or DeSUS [Karl ERJAVEC]

Liberal Democracy of Slovenia or LDS [Katarina KRESAL]

New Slovenia or NSi [Ljudmila NOVAK (acting)]

Slovene National Party or SNS [Zmago JELINCIC]

Slovene People’s Party or SLS [Radovan ZERJAV]

Slovene Youth Party or SMS [Darko KRANJC]

Slovenian Democratic Party or SDS [Janez JANSA]

Social Democrats or SD [Borut PAHOR] (formerly ZLSD)

ZARES [Gregor GOLOBIC]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Slovenian Roma Association [Jozek Horvat MUC]
other:Catholic Church

International organization participation

Australia Group, BIS, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA (cooperating state), EU, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Roman KIRN
chancery:2410 California Street N.W., Washington, DC 20008
telephone:[1] (202) 386-6601
FAX:[1] (202) 386-6633
consulate(s) general:Cleveland, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph A. MUSSOMELI
embassy:Presernova 31, 1000 Ljubljana
mailing address:American Embassy Ljubljana, US Department of State, 7140 Ljubljana Place, Washington, DC 20521-7140
telephone:[386] (1) 200-5500
FAX:[386] (1) 200-5555

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red, derive from the medieval coat of arms of the Duchy of Carniola

the Slovenian seal (a shield with the image of Triglav, Slovenia’s highest peak, in white against a blue background at the center

beneath it are two wavy blue lines depicting seas and rivers, and above it are three six-pointed stars arranged in an inverted triangle, which are taken from the coat of arms of the Counts of Celje, the great Slovene dynastic house of the late 14th and early 15th centuries) appears in the upper hoist side of the flag centered on the white and blue bands

National symbol(s)

Mount Triglav

National anthem

name: “Zdravljica” (A Toast)
lyrics/music:France PRESEREN/Stanko PREMRL
note:adopted 1989

the anthem was originally written in 1848

the full poem, whose seventh verse is used as the anthem, speaks of pan-Slavic nationalism

Economy

Economy – overview

Slovenia became the first 2004 European Union entrant to adopt the euro (on 1 January 2007) and has become a model of economic success and stability for the region. With the highest per capita GDP in Central Europe, Slovenia has excellent infrastructure, a well-educated work force, and a strategic location between the Balkans and Western Europe. Privatization has lagged since 2002, and the economy has one of highest levels of state control in the EU. Structural reforms to improve the business environment have allowed for somewhat greater foreign participation in Slovenia’s economy and have helped to lower unemployment. In March 2004, Slovenia became the first transition country to graduate from borrower status to donor partner at the World Bank. In December 2007, Slovenia was invited to begin the accession process for joining the OECD. Despite its economic success, foreign direct investment (FDI) in Slovenia has lagged behind the region average, and taxes remain relatively high. Furthermore, the labor market is often seen as inflexible, and legacy industries are losing sales to more competitive firms in China, India, and elsewhere. In 2009, the world recession caused the economy to contract – through falling exports and industrial production – by more than 8%, and unemployment to rise above 9%. Although growth resumed in 2010, the unemployment rate continued to rise, topping 10%.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$56.58 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90 $55.91 billion (2009 est.)
$60.85 billion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$47.85 billion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

1.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167 -8.1% (2009 est.)
3.7% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$28,200 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50 $27,900 (2009 est.)
$30,300 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 2.4%
industry:31.2%
services:66.4% (2010 est.)

Labor force

935,500 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144

Labor force – by occupation

agriculture: 2.2%
industry:35%
services:62.8% (2009)

Unemployment rate

10.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115 9.2% (2009 est.)

Population below poverty line

12.3% (2008)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.4%
highest 10%:24.6% (2004)

Distribution of family income – Gini index

28.4 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 124 23.8 (2004)

Investment (gross fixed)

23.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75

Budget

revenues: $19.64 billion
expenditures:$22.16 billion (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

41% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-5.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149

Public debt

33% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88 31.4% of GDP (2009 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58 0.9% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

1.75% (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 124 1.75% (31 December 2009)
note:this is the European Central Bank’s rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area

Commercial bank prime lending rate

5.681% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151 5.908% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$11.28 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72 $10.63 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
note:see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro area

the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 17 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU)

individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating within their own borders

Stock of broad money

$25.57 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78 $26.93 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$50.74 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63 $52.4 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$9.428 billion (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 65 $11.77 billion (31 December 2009)
$11.77 billion (31 December 2008)

Agriculture – products

potatoes, hops, wheat, sugar beets, corn, grapes

cattle, sheep, poultry

Industries

ferrous metallurgy and aluminum products, lead and zinc smelting

electronics (including military electronics), trucks, automobiles, electric power equipment, wood products, textiles, chemicals, machine tools

Industrial production growth rate

6.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67

Electricity – production

13 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84

Electricity – consumption

14.7 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77

Electricity – exports

9.197 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

3.041 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Oil – production

5 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125

Oil – consumption

63,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92

Oil – exports

8,958 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96

Oil – imports

60,270 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83

Oil – proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188

Natural gas – production

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122

Natural gas – consumption

890 million cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90

Natural gas – exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176

Natural gas – imports

890 million cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61

Natural gas – proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189

Current account balance

-$542.7 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115 -$634.9 million (2009 est.)

Exports

$24.39 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66 $22.53 billion (2009 est.)

Exports – commodities

manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food

Exports – partners

Germany 19.2%, Italy 12.5%, Austria 7.4%, France 6.8%, Croatia 6.4%, Hungary 4.4% (2010)

Imports

$25.99 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63 $23.5 billion (2009 est.)

Imports – commodities

machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, chemicals, fuels and lubricants, food

Imports – partners

Germany 16.2%, Italy 15.5%, Austria 10.6%, France 4.8%, Croatia 4.6%, China 4.1% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$1.108 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133 $1.08 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$61.23 billion (30 June 2011)
country comparison to the world: 54 $51.57 billion (30 June 2010)

Stock of direct foreign investment – at home

$15.02 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75 $15.13 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment – abroad

$7.603 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54 $7.901 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Exchange rates

euros (EUR) per US dollar -
0.755 (2010)
0.7198 (2009)
0.6827 (2008)
0.7345 (2007)
note:on 1 January 2007 Slovenia adopted the euro as legal tender

Transportation

Airports

16 (2010)
country comparison to the world:143

Airports – with paved runways

total: 7
over 3,047 m:1
2,438 to 3,047 m:1
1,524 to 2,437 m:1
914 to 1,523 m:3
under 914 m:1 (2010)

Airports – with unpaved runways

total: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m:1
914 to 1,523 m:3
under 914 m:5 (2010)

Pipelines

gas 840 km

oil 5 km (2010)

Railways

total: 1,228 km
country comparison to the world: 83 standard gauge:1,228 km 1.435-m gauge (503 km electrified) (2009)

Roadways

total: 38,925 km
country comparison to the world: 92 paved:38,925 km (includes 658 km of expressways) (2009)

Waterways

(there is some transport on the Drava River) (2010)

Merchant marine

registered in other countries: 25 (Antigua and Barbuda 1, Bahamas 1, Cyprus 4, Liberia 5, Malta 4, Marshall Islands 6, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2, Singapore 1, Slovakia 1) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 92

Ports and terminals

Koper

Military

Military branches

Slovenian Army (includes air and naval forces)

Military service age and obligation

18-25 years of age for voluntary military service

conscription abolished in 2003 (2010)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 477,592
females age 16-49:464,301 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 392,075
females age 16-49:380,077 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 9,818
female:9,395 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures

1.7% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89

Transnational Issues

Disputes – international

the Croatia-Slovenia land and maritime boundary agreement, which would have ceded most of Piran Bay and maritime access to Slovenia and several villages to Croatia, remains unratified and in dispute

Slovenia also protests Croatia’s 2003 claim to an exclusive economic zone in the Adriatic

as a member state that forms part of the EU’s external border, Slovenia has implemented the strict Schengen border rules to curb illegal migration and commerce through southeastern Europe while encouraging close cross-border ties with Croatia

Illicit drugs

minor transit point for cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin bound for Western Europe, and for precursor chemicals