DOCSLIB.ORG

The Slovenian Parliament and EU Affairs

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

BRIEFING National Parliaments The Slovenian Parliament and EU affairs Državni zbor Državni svet President: Igor Zorčič (NeP, NI) President: Alojz Kovšca (Craft sector representative) Chair of the Committee on EU Affairs: Marko Chair of the Commission for International Pogačnik (SDS, EPP) Relations and European Affairs: Bojan Kekec Secretary General: Uršula Zore Tavčar (Local interests representative) (organigram) Secretary General: Dušan Štrus (organigram) EU liaison officer: Zvonko Bergant EU affairs secretariat: Lilijana Žurman Address: Šubičeva ulica 4, 1102 Ljubljana Address: Šubičeva ulica 4, 1102 Ljubljana http://www.dz-rs.si | @DrzavniZbor http://www.ds-rs.si | @DrzavniSvet 90 seats 40 seats Introduction to Slovenia's parliamentary system Since 1991 the Republic of Slovenia has had a parliamentary system composed of the Državni zbor (National Assembly) and the Državni svet (National Council). The Slovenian Parliament has the features of an 'incomplete bicameral system', based on 'asymmetric duality' – the National Council has less authority and fewer competences than the National Assembly, in accordance with Chapter IV of the Constitution. The National Assembly is described as the 'supreme representative and legislative institution, exercising legislative and electoral powers as well as control over the Executive'. Its members are elected every four years from nine constituencies by a universal, equal, direct, and secret vote. Different, specific, rules apply to the election of one member each of the Italian and Hungarian national communities. The Government of Slovenia is accountable to the National Assembly, and the Prime Minister is elected by the National Assembly by a majority vote of all of its members. __________________________________________________________________________________ This briefing is part of an EPRS series on national parliaments (NPs) and EU affairs. It aims to provide an overview of the way the NPs of EU Member States are structured and how they process, scrutinise and engage with EU legislation. It also provides information on relevant NP publications. EPRS | European Parliamentary Research Service Authors: Klemen Žumer and Yann-Sven Rittelmeyer Linking the Levels Unit PE 690.704 – July 2021 EN EPRS | European Parliamentary Research Service The National Council is the representative body for social, economic, professional, and local interests and has mainly a consultative role. According to Article 96 of the Constitution, it is composed of a fixed number of representatives of labour and social interests (employers, employees, farmers, crafts and trades, independent professions and non-commercial fields) and representatives of local interests (territorial interests). The members do not hold office professionally and are elected for a five-year term from the relevant interest organisations or local communities. Political parties are not specifically represented in the National Council but it is not entirely free of political influence, especially when it comes to members representing local interests. The National Assembly is the sole body that can adopt laws, under a legislative procedure governed by the Constitution and the Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly. Legislative proposals may be initiated by the Government, any Assembly member, a minimum of 5 000 voters (Article 88 of the Constitution), or by the National Council (Article 97). Whereas the National Assembly is in charge of adopting the laws, the primary role of the National Council is to convey its opinion and it has a 'suspensive veto' that allows to ask the National Assembly to examine a law once more, within seven days of its adoption and before its promulgation. Like the National Assembly, the National Council can also demand inquiries on matters of public importance, when this is requested by a third of its members (Article 93). The Slovenian Parliament's role and organisation in EU affairs Slovenia's Constitution refers specifically to the role of its National Assembly on EU affairs. Its Article 3a states that in cases relating to Slovenia's EU membership, the Government must inform the National Assembly promptly of proposals for EU acts and decisions, as well as of its own EU- related activities. The National Assembly may adopt positions on EU affairs, which the Government must 'take into consideration'. Several actors are involved in coordinating Slovenia's EU affairs: the Government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Slovenia's Permanent Representation in Brussels, working groups, and the National Assembly.1 The main responsibility for EU affairs, procedures and decision-making lies at executive level, coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and its Directorate for EU Affairs in particular. The procedures are defined by the Act on Cooperation between the National Assembly and the Government in European Union Affairs (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia No 34/04, 43/10, 107/10 and 30/15). This act determines the National Assembly's participation in the formulation of Slovenia's positions on EU affairs. First adopted in April 2004, on the eve of Slovenia's EU's accession, this act has been amended several times in order to reflect Slovenia's developing relationship with the EU and the National Assembly's role in these matters. In December 2010, for example, it incorporated provisions following the adoption of the Lisbon Treaty to ensure 'more effective involvement of the National Assembly in decision-making processes at the EU level' and 'greater activity of its working bodies responsible in the discussion of EU affairs'. The Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly give further guidance on EU-related proceedings. The latest update was made in April 2020, following the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, to create the possibility of holding remote sessions of the National Assembly and of its working bodies (with the possibility of remote debate and voting). Neither the Constitution, the Cooperation Act nor the Act on the National Council give the National Council a specific role regarding EU affairs. Its only competences on these matters are set out in the Rules of Procedure of both chambers. The National Assembly and its Committee on EU Affairs The National Assembly's competent bodies on matters relating to Slovenia's EU membership are the Committee on EU Affairs (CEU), where all EU affairs are debated and Slovenia's positions on them are decided, with the exception of the EU's foreign and security policy, which is discussed by the Committee on Foreign Policy (CFP) (Article 154b, Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly). 2 The Slovenian Parliament and EU affairs The National Assembly has two different types of working bodies: committees and commissions. The committees generally correspond to the ministerial areas of responsibility or cover several inter- related areas. The CEU and CFP are among the current 13 committees and 2 sub-committees, but are the only ones formally mentioned in the Rules of Procedure. Six standing commissions are mentioned in the Rules of Procedure (Article 35); others can be set up ad hoc or for special inquiries. The CEU is currently composed of 17 members. Compared with other EU Member State national parliaments, this is quite a high number in proportion to the total number of members. This can be explained by the fact that most members of the Slovenian National Assembly belong to three committees and several commissions. The committee has a chair, currently Marko Pogačnik (SDS, EPP), and two vice-chairs. The composition of committees is proportional to the number of members of the political groups, while each political group is ensured at least one seat on each competent body. Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) from Slovenia can attend and participate in the debates of the CEU and CFP – when dealing with EU matters – but do not have voting rights. Several other people are also invited to attend these meetings: representatives of the Government, representatives of the working bodies responsible, a representative of the National Council, representatives of the European Parliament Liaison Office for Slovenia and the European Commission Representation to Slovenia, a representative of the Legislative and Legal Service, and representatives of the expert public, civil society, business, and associations may also be invited. The CEU usually meets every week, if possible on Friday mornings. Since the start of this legislative term in June 2018, it has had 109 regular sessions, normally relating to upcoming Council meetings, and 25 emergency sessions (data until the beginning of June 2021). Among these, 48 were joint meetings, 38 of them with the CFP. The CEU's work is supported by one civil servant acting as Secretary of the Committee, four advisers for individual areas and an administrative assistant. Due to the preparations for Conference of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs of Parliaments of the European Union (COSAC) meetings in the second half of this year, the current work of the Secretary of the Committee is supported by two additional civil servants: one is in charge of the ongoing operation of the CEU and the other is in charge of preparing COSAC meetings and chairing a special working group set up for this purpose. The CEU's secretariat is responsible for organising the committee meetings, for supporting the President of the CEU (e.g. preparing briefings and opinions), preparing documents and briefings for members of the CEU delegation attending
Recommended publications
  • Spotlight on Parliaments in Europe

    Spotlight on Parliaments in Europe

    Spotlight on Parliaments in Europe Issued by the EP Directorate for Relations with National Parliaments N° 13 - November 2016 Quality of legislation stemming from the EU On 19 September 2016, the Italian Senate submitted a request to the ECPRD network concerning the quality of legislation stemming from the EU. This request was an opportunity for National Parliaments to exchange best practices on how to ensure the quality of legislation with specific regard to transposition, implementation and enforcement of EU law. From the 21 answers provided by National Parliaments it is clear that transposition and implementation of EU Law is highly unlikely to require special attention. While almost all of them are using legislative guidelines and procedures for guaranteeing high standard of general law-making, only a few have felt the need to establish special mechanisms to ensure the quality of legislation stemming from the EU. The use of legislative guidelines and procedures; the main way to ensure the quality of legislation stemming from the EU. The use of legislative guidelines and procedures appears to be the most common way for National Parliaments to ensure the quality of legislation, also the legislation stemming from the EU. It allows for good linguistic coherence in the national languages while enhancing the standardization of the law. For example, in the case of Austria, the Federal Chancellery has published specific “Legistische Richtlinien”. In Spain, the instrument used is the Regulation Guidelines adopted in the Agreement of the Council of Ministers of 22 July 2005. Both Italian Chambers use Joint Guidelines on drafting of national legislation.
  • Slovenian Minority in Austria Tereza Smejkalová1

    Slovenian Minority in Austria Tereza Smejkalová1

    Slovenian minority in Austria Tereza Smejkalová1 Abstract: This paper will analyse the issue of the Slovenian minority in Austria and focus on its history, development and contemporary concerns as well as attitudes on both sides of this disputed subject. It also stresses the importance of tolerance, democracy and the respect of people’s values, which should be part of the contemporary world and especially of the European Union. If the language and culture of a minority are not adequately respected, the European Union should be concerned and act accordingly. However, in the case of the Slovenian minority this does not occur. Keywords: Slovenia, minority, language policy, and bilingual signposts The autochthonous Slovenian ethnic minority, which is a remnant of former Slavic groups that populated the entire south and east of today’s Austria, now lives in the south Austrian provinces of Carinthia and Styria. Although this minority has had its rights guaranteed by two international treaties – the Saint Germain Peace Treaty of 1919 and the Austrian State Treaty of 1955 – and European conventions, Austria has failed to fully implement them. The Slovenian minority in Styria is not even officially recognised, while ethnic Slovenians in Carinthia have had to fight for every benefit that should have been taken for granted. This status is also indisputably linked to the fact that the former head of the Freedom Party, who has been criticised for his xenophobic and racist statements, is currently the governor of Carinthia. Jorg Haider used the so-called bilingual signpost dispute (“Ortstafelsturm”) in the pre-elections campaign in the summer of 2006 and his actions have dramatically worsened the tensions between the two neighbouring countries.
  • National Museums in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Slovenia: a Story of Making ’Us’ Vanja Lozic

    National Museums in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Slovenia: a Story of Making ’Us’ Vanja Lozic

    Building National Museums in Europe 1750-2010. Conference proceedings from EuNaMus, European National Museums: Identity Politics, the Uses of the Past and the European Citizen, Bologna 28-30 April 2011. Peter Aronsson & Gabriella Elgenius (eds) EuNaMus Report No 1. Published by Linköping University Electronic Press: http://www.ep.liu.se/ecp_home/index.en.aspx?issue=064 © The Author. National Museums in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Slovenia: A Story of Making ’Us’ Vanja Lozic Summary This study explores the history of the five most significant national and regional museums in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia. The aim is to show how these museums contribute to the construction of national and other identities through collections, selections and classifications of objects of interest and through historical narratives. The three museums from Bosnia and Herzegovina that are included in this study are The National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo; which was founded in 1888 and is the oldest institution of this kind in the country; the History Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina founded in 1945 (Sarajevo) and the Museum of the Republic of Srpska in Banja Luka (the second largest city in BiH), which was founded in 1930 under the name the Museum of Vrbas Banovina. As far as Slovenia is concerned, two analysed museums, namely the National Museum of Slovenia (est. 1821) and the Museum of Contemporary History of Slovenia (est. 1944/1948), are situated in Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. The most significant periods for the creation of museums as a part of the consolidation of political power and construction of regional and/or national identities can be labelled: The period under the Austrian empire (-1918) and the establishment of first regional museums.
  • Health Systems in Transition: Slovenia (Vol. 18 No. 3 2016)

    Health Systems in Transition: Slovenia (Vol. 18 No. 3 2016)

    Health Systems in Transition Vol. 18 No. 3 2016 Slovenia Health system review Tit Albreht • Radivoje Pribakovic´ Brinovec Dušan Jošar • Mircha Poldrugovac Tatja Kostnapfel • Metka Zaletel Dimitra Panteli • Anna Maresso Anna Maresso and Dimitra Panteli (Editors) and Ewout van Ginneken (Series editor) were responsible for this HiT Editorial Board Series editors Reinhard Busse, Berlin University of Technology, Germany Josep Figueras, European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies Martin McKee, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom Elias Mossialos, London School of Economics and Political Science, United Kingdom Ellen Nolte, European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies Ewout van Ginneken, Berlin University of Technology, Germany Series coordinator Gabriele Pastorino, European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies Editorial team Jonathan Cylus, European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies Cristina Hernández-Quevedo, European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies Marina Karanikolos, European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies Anna Maresso, European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies David McDaid, European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies Sherry Merkur, European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies Dimitra Panteli, Berlin University of Technology, Germany Wilm Quentin, Berlin University of Technology, Germany Bernd Rechel, European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies Erica Richardson, European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies Anna Sagan, European
  • Oireachtas Digest on Europe Week 29: 19 to 25 July 2021 | Ref: 28-21

    Oireachtas Digest on Europe Week 29: 19 to 25 July 2021 | Ref: 28-21

    Oireachtas Digest on Europe Week 29: 19 to 25 July 2021 | Ref: 28-21 Spotlight Last Week European Parliament: EU’s capacity to anticipate and respond to health crises. The Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) adopted a draft negotiating position for a new regulation on tackling serious cross-border health threats. The text will be voted by all MEPs during September’s plenary session. Independent Ethics Body: In a report endorsed by the Constitutional Affairs Committee on Wednesday, MEPs set out their views on the establishment of an independent EU Ethics Body. New EU strategy for China In a report adopted on Thursday, the Foreign Affairs Committee outlines six pillars on which the EU should build a new strategy to deal with China: cooperation on global challenges, engagement on international norms and human rights, identifying risks and vulnerabilities, building partnerships with like-minded partners, fostering strategic autonomy and defending European interests and values. Kremlin politics: In a new assessment of the direction of EU-Russia political relations, MEPs make clear the Parliament distinguishes between the Russian people and President Vladimir Putin’s regime. The latter is, they say, a “stagnating authoritarian kleptocracy led by a president-for-life surrounded by a circle of oligarchs”. Slovenian Presidency.Slovenia holds the Presidency of the Council until the end of 2021. During the week, Ministers outlined the priorities of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU to parliamentary committees, in a series of meetings. Data governance: On Thursday, the Industry, Research and Energy Committee adopted its position on the EU Data Governance Act (DGA), aimed at increasing trust in data sharing, create new EU rules on neutrality of data marketplaces and facilitate the reuse of certain data held by the public sector e.g.
  • EUDO Citizenship Observatory

    EUDO Citizenship Observatory

    EUDO CITIZENSHIP OBSERVATORY COUNTRY REPORT: SLOVENIA Felicita Medved Revised and updated June 2013 http://eudo-citizenship.eu European University Institute, Florence Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies EUDO Citizenship Observatory Report on Slovenia Felicita Medved Revised and updated June 2013 EUDO Citizenship Observatory Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies in collaboration with Edinburgh University Law School Country Report, RSCAS/EUDO-CIT-CR 2013/24 Badia Fiesolana, San Domenico di Fiesole (FI), Italy © Felicita Medved This text may be downloaded only for personal research purposes. Additional reproduction for other purposes, whether in hard copies or electronically, requires the consent of the authors. Requests should be addressed to [email protected] The views expressed in this publication cannot in any circumstances be regarded as the official position of the European Union Published in Italy European University Institute Badia Fiesolana I – 50014 San Domenico di Fiesole (FI) Italy www.eui.eu/RSCAS/Publications/ www.eui.eu cadmus.eui.eu Research for the EUDO Citizenship Observatory Country Reports has been jointly supported, at various times, by the European Commission grant agreements JLS/2007/IP/CA/009 EUCITAC and HOME/2010/EIFX/CA/1774 ACIT and by the British Academy Research Project CITMODES (both projects co-directed by the EUI and the University of Edinburgh). The financial support from these projects is gratefully acknowledged. For information about the project please visit the project website at http://eudo-citizenship.eu Slovenia Felicita Medved1 1 Introduction This report focuses on državljanstvo of the Republic of Slovenia, i.e. on citizenship or nationality as a legal bond between a person and a sovereign state.
  • The Slovenian Parliament and EU Affairs Sabina Kajnč Lange, European Institute of Public Administration

    The Slovenian Parliament and EU Affairs Sabina Kajnč Lange, European Institute of Public Administration

    OPAL Country Reports The Slovenian Parliament and EU Affairs Sabina Kajnč Lange, European Institute of Public Administration To cite this report: S. Kajnč Lange (2012), OPAL Country Reports: The Slovenian Parliament and EU Affairs, weblink September 2012 OPAL Country Report on the Slovenian Parliament, September 2012 OPAL Country Report on the Slovenian Parliament1 Sabina Lange, European Institute of Public Administration Acronyms: CFP Odbor za zunanjo politiko - Committee for foreign policy EAC Odbor za zadeve Evropske unije, Committee on EU Affairs (CEUA) LRNAG Zakon o odnosih med državnim zborom in vlado v zadevah Evropske unije (Law on Relations between the National Assembly and the Government in matters of the European Union) SI Slovenia RoP Rules of Procedure RoPNA Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly 1. General Position of Parliament in the Constitutional Balance of the Member State: Constitutional and institutional factors This section looks at the role of Parliament in the political system, to help us understand the relative power position of the legislature. What is the type of government in the political system of your member state? 1.1 (i.e. parliamentary or semi-presidential) Parliamentary system 1.2 Is it a uni- or bicameral Parliament? If bicameral, is one house dominant or are both equally strong? Please briefly explain. Bicameral, with Lower house (državni zbor; national assembly, Staatsversammlung) very dominant over the Upper house (državni svet; national council; Staatsrat). Upper house combines interest and regional representation. 1.3 Is the state federal, decentralized or unitary? If applicable, is it a form of assymetrical federalism? Unitary 1.4 Briefly describe the electoral system, if applicable, for each chamber.
  • February 2013

    February 2013

    02 ISSN 1854-0805 February 2013 The latest from Slovenia IN FOCUS: An escape route from crisis has been mapped out IN FOCUS INTERVIEW: The Prime Minister Janez Janša IN PERSON: Slovenian missionary Pedro Opeka CONTENTS EDITORIAL IN FOCUS 16 Photo: Bruno Toič The first year under the leadership of Prime Minister Janez Janša An escape route from the crisis has been mapped out READY, /STA Petelinšek Tamino Photo: IN FOCUS INTERVIEW 22 STEADY, The Prime Minister Janez Janša We are behaving responsibly GO Tanja Glogovčan, editor Photo: Archives of PM RS Photo: God’s blessing on all nations! This is a feeling that many citizens of any nation or community carry in their hearts. Work for the common good is the basis for this edition and start your of Sinfo. Work for the common good must be the foundation of politics, economics, examples of good business practice and good personal behaviour. IN PERSON 36 A year has passed since Prime Minister Janez Janša formed the current business in Slovenia Slovenian missionary Pedro Opeka Government, and a lot has happened on the political scene during this Slovenian – a Nobel Prize Candidate time. We conducted an interview with the Slovenian Prime Minister, Janez Janša, and an overview of the Government’s work in the first eugo.gov.si year of its mandate. We highlight achievements and plans of the Government for the future. Photo: Stane Kerin Photo: We dedicated quite a lot of attention to the great Slovenian Cultural The EUGO SLOVENIA online portal is a central business point offering assistance to foreign Holiday – Prešeren Day.
  • Individual Access to Constitutional Justice

    Individual Access to Constitutional Justice

    Strasbourg, 27 January 2011 CDL-AD(2010)039rev. Study N° 538 / 2009 Or. Engl. EUROPEAN COMMISSION FOR DEMOCRACY THROUGH LAW (VENICE COMMISSION) STUDY ON INDIVIDUAL ACCESS TO CONSTITUTIONAL JUSTICE Adopted by the Venice Commission at its 85th Plenary Session (Venice, 17-18 December 2010) on the basis of comments by Mr Gagik HARUTYUNYAN (Member, Armenia) Ms Angelika NUSSBERGER (Substitute Member, Germany) Mr Peter PACZOLAY (Member, Hungary) This document will not be distributed at the meeting. Please bring this copy. http://www.venice.coe.int CDL-AD(2010)039 - 2 - Table of contents INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................................6 GENERAL REMARKS....................................................................................................6 I. ACCESS TO CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW ...............................................................15 I.1. TYPES OF ACCESS .................................................................................................17 I.1.1. Indirect access...................................................................................................17 I.1.2. Direct access.....................................................................................................20 I.2. THE ACTS UNDER REVIEW ......................................................................................28 I.3. PROTECTED RIGHTS ..............................................................................................29 PARTIAL CONCLUSIONS OF CHAPTER
  • AC 4Th Cycle Opinion

    AC 4Th Cycle Opinion

    ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON THE FRAMEWORK CONVENTION FOR THE PROTECTION OF NATIONAL MINORITIES GVT/COM/IV(2018)003 Comments of the Government of Slovenia on the Fourth Opinion of the Advisory Committee on the implementation of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities by Slovenia - received on 14 March 2018 Position on the findings and recommendations of the Fourth Opinion of the Advisory Committee on the Implementation of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities in the Republic of Slovenia (8 March 2018) INTRODUCTION On 21 June 2017, the Advisory Committee on the Implementation of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities published its Fourth Opinion on the implementation of the convention in the Republic of Slovenia, No. ACFC/OP/IV(2017)003, on the basis of the Fourth State Report, other written sources and information obtained from governmental and non-governmental sources during its visit to Ljubljana and Lendava, and to settlements in the municipalities of Grosuplje and Ribnica from 10 to 13 April 2017. After the adoption of the Opinion, the Advisory Committee invited the authorities of the Republic of Slovenia to take account of the observations and submit any comments. The Government of the Republic of Slovenia (hereinafter: Government) is grateful to the Advisory Committee of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities for their work and the Fourth Opinion, of which the Government will endeavour to take heed and bear in mind in future activities. The position of the Government on the findings and recommendations of the Fourth Opinion of the Advisory Committee on the Implementation of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, No.
  • 2020 Slovenia Country Report | SGI Sustainable Governance Indicators

    2020 Slovenia Country Report | SGI Sustainable Governance Indicators

    Slovenia Report Miro Hacek, Susanne Pickel, Frank Bönker (Coordinator) Sustainable Governance Indicators 2020 © vege - stock.adobe.com Sustainable Governance SGI Indicators SGI 2020 | 2 Slovenia Report Executive Summary From September 2018 to January 2020, Slovenia was governed by a minority government led by Prime Minister Marjan Šarec. Based on a coalition of five center-left political parties (List of Marjan Sarec, LMŠ; Modern Center Party, SMC; Democratic Party of Pensioners of Slovenia, DeSUS; Social Democrats, SD; Party of Alenka Bratušek, SAB), the government depended on support from the leftist Levica party. Primarily held together by the desire to prevent a return to power on the part of Janez Janša, whose center-right Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS) had won twice as many votes as its nearest rival in the June 2019 parliamentary elections, internal political struggles within the center-left coalition left the minority government unable to carry out reforms. Largely due to the Slovenian economy’s high export propensity and strong dependency on development in larger European economies, real GDP fell from more than 4% in 2017 and 2018 to 2.5% in 2019. Despite the unexpected economic slowdown, unemployment continued to decline which allowed the Šarec government to achieve a small fiscal surplus. Supported by the surplus, active public debt management, low interest rates and substantial privatization proceeds, public debt fell from 70.4% of GDP in 2018 to 66.7% in 2019. Projections suggest it will decline further in 2021 and fall below 60%. Compared to its predecessor, the Šarec government was more successful with the privatization of state banks, which has been on the agenda for some time.
  • Briefing Note on Slovenia (PDF

    Briefing Note on Slovenia (PDF

    2 Briefing Research for the REGI Committee: Economic, social and territorial situation of Slovenia This briefing was prepared to provide information for the European Parliament’s Committee on Regional Development delegation to Slovenia on 3-5 April 2018. 1. Introduction to Slovenia and its political and administrative system Slovenia is located in the southern part of Central Europe. It borders Austria in the north, Croatia in the south, Italy in the west and Hungary in the east. Slovenia has access to the Adriatic Sea. With the exception of its littoral region, the country is predominantly mountainous with a continental climate. Slovenia’s coastal region has a Mediterranean climate. Its highest mountain is Triglav (2 864 m). Slovenia has the sixth smallest population and the fourth smallest territory in the European Union. Over half its territory is covered by forests. Map 1: Slovenia Source: European Parliament DG IPOL Policy Department for Structural and Cohesion Policies, European Parliament Author: Marek KOLODZIEJSKI, Research Administrator European Parliament PE 617.462 March 2018 © European Union, 2018 Slovenia joined the EU on 1 May 2004. On 1 January 2007, it became the first New Member State to join the Euro area. Slovenia is a member of both NATO (since 2004) and the OECD (since 2010). The official language is Slovenian. Table 1: Key data Slovenia Flag Total area 20 273 km2 Population (2017) 2 065 895 Population density (2015) 102.4 inhabitants per km2 EU-28 estimate: 117.1 inhabitants per km2 Language Slovenian Currency Euro Source: Eurostat Slovenia is a parliamentary democratic republic with a head of government – the Prime Minister, elected by Parliament – and a head of state – the President, elected in direct elections.