Foreign relations of Slovenia
Template:Short description Template:More citations needed Template:Politics of SloveniaSince Slovenia declared independence in 1991, its Governments have underscored their commitment to improving cooperation with neighbouring countries and actively contributing to international efforts aimed at bringing stability to Southeast Europe. Resource limitations have nevertheless been a problem hindering the efficiency of the Slovenian diplomacy. In the 1990s, foreign relations, especially with Italy, Austria and Croatia, triggered internal political controversies. In the last eight years, however, a wide consensus has been reached among the vast majority of Slovenian political parties to jointly work in the improvement of the country's diplomatic infrastructure and to avoid politicizing the foreign relations by turning them into an issue of internal political debates.
Relations with neighbors
[edit]Slovenia's bilateral relations with its neighbors are generally good and cooperative. However, a few unresolved disputes with Croatia remain. They are related mostly to the succession of the former Yugoslavia, including demarcation of their common border. In addition, unlike the other successor states of the former Yugoslavia, Slovenia did not normalize relations with the "Federal Republic of Yugoslavia" (Serbia and Montenegro) until after the passing from power of Slobodan Milošević; although the Slovenes did open a representative office in Podgorica to work with Montenegrin President Milo Đukanović's government.
Succession issues, particularly concerning liabilities and assets of the former Yugoslavia, remain a key factor in Slovenia's relations in the region. On the whole, no conflicts mar relations with neighbors, which are on a sound footing. Numerous cooperative projects are either underway or envisioned, and bilateral and multilateral partnerships are deepening. Differences, many of which stem from Yugoslavia's time, have been handled responsibly and are being resolved.
Diplomatic relations
[edit]List of countries which Slovenia maintains diplomatic relations with:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Bilateral relations
[edit]Multilateral
[edit]| Organization | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Template:Flag | See 2004 enlargement of the European Union
Slovenia joined the European Union as a full member on 1 May 2004. | |
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Slovenia joined NATO as a full member on 29 March 2004. |
Africa
[edit]| Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Template:Flag | See Algeria–Slovenia relations | |
| Template:Flag | See Egypt–Slovenia relations
Since September 2007, Egypt has an embassy in Ljubljana. Slovenia has an embassy in Cairo (opened in 1993). Both countries are members of the Union for the Mediterranean. | |
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Guinea-Bissau is represented in Slovenia by an honorary consulate in Ljubljana.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | |
| Template:Flag | See Libya–Slovenia relations | |
| Template:Flag | 30 October 1992 |
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| Template:Flag | See Slovenia–Tunisia relations |
Americas
[edit]| Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Template:Flag | 14 April 1992 |
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| Template:Flag | 21 December 1992 |
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| Template:Flag | See Canada–Slovenia relations | |
| Template:Flag | July 2004 |
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Dominica is represented in Slovenia through its embassy in London.<ref name="mzz.gov.si">https://web.archive.org/web/20161224031449/http://www.mzz.gov.si/fileadmin/pageuploads/foto/1608/DL_19_August_2016.pdf Template:Bare URL PDF</ref> | |
| Template:Flag | 25 November 1993 |
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| Template:Flag | 22 May 1992 | See Mexico–Slovenia relations
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| Template:Flag | 7 April 1992 | See Slovenia–United States relations
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Asia
[edit]| Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Template:Flag | 27 June 1994 |
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| Template:Flag | 20 February 1996<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
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| Template:Flag | 1992<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | See China–Slovenia relations
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| Template:Flag | 13 January 1993 | See Georgia–Slovenia relations
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| Template:Flag | 11 May 1992<ref name="auto">Template:Cite web</ref> |
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| Template:Flag | 28 April 1992 | See Israel-Slovenia relations
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| Template:Flag | See Japan–Slovenia relations
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| Template:Flag | 1992Template:Citation needed | |
| Template:Flag | 3 February 1993 |
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| Template:Flag | 1992-04-15 | See Slovenia–South Korea relations
The establishment of diplomatic relations between Republika Slovenija and the Republic of Korea began on 15 April 1992.
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| Template:Flag | See Slovenia–Turkey relations | |
| Template:Flag | 7 June 1994 |
Europe
[edit]| Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Template:Flag | See Albania–Slovenia relations | |
| Template:Flag | See Austria–Slovenia relations
Relations between Austria and Slovenia are close. Austria was, next to Germany and the Holy See, the most firm supporter of Slovenia's independence. It firmly endorsed Slovenia's path into the European Union. Economic cooperation between the two countries is very important and has been expanding since the early 1990s. Regional cooperation, especially with the states of Carinthia and Styria, is well developed: as a concrete manifestation of the excellent state of regional relations, Slovenia, Austria, and Italy entered a joint bid to organize the 2006 and 2010 Winter Olympic Games.
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| Template:Flag | See Belgium–Slovenia relations
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| Template:Flag | See Bosnia and Herzegovina–Slovenia relations | |
| Template:Flag | See Bulgaria–Slovenia relations
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| Template:Flag | See Croatia–Slovenia relations
Before 1991, both countries were part of Yugoslavia. On June 26, 1991, a mutual recognitial agreement was signed by both countries. Diplomatic relations between both countries were established on February 6, 1992. Croatia has an embassy in Ljubljana and two honorary consulates in Maribor and Koper. Slovenia has an embassy in Zagreb and an honorary consulate in Split. Both countries shares 670 km of common border.
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| Template:Flag | See Cyprus–Slovenia relations
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| Template:Flag | See Czech Republic–Slovenia relations
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| Template:Flag | See Denmark–Slovenia relations
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| Template:Flag | See Finland–Slovenia relations
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| Template:Flag | See France–Slovenia relations
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| Template:Flag | See Germany–Slovenia relations
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| Template:Flag | See Greece–Slovenia relations
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| Template:Flag | See Hungary–Slovenia relations
Relations with Hungary are excellent. Unlike with some of Hungary's other neighbors, minority issues have not been a problem in Hungarian-Slovene relations. The Hungarian minority in Slovenia is granted a policy of positive discrimination under the Slovene constitution, and the legal status of Hungarian Slovenes is good. Within the Multilateral Cooperation Initiative between Slovenia, Italy, Hungary, and Croatia, cooperation exists in numerous fields, including military (Multinational Land Force peacekeeping brigade), transportation, combating money laundering and organized crime, non-proliferation, border crossings, and environmental issues.
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| Template:Flag | 1991 |
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| Template:Flag | See Italy–Slovenia relations
The bilateral relations between Italy and Slovenia have improved dramatically since 1994 and are now at a very good level. In the early 1990s, the issue regarding property restitution to the Istrian exiles was hindering the development of a good relationship between the two countries. By 1996, however, the issue had been set aside, with Italy renouncing any revision of the Treaty of Osimo, allowing a significant improvement in relations. Italy was a firm supporter of Slovene EU and NATO membership, helping Slovenia technically and legislatively master its bid for membership in European and transatlantic institutions. In 2001, the Italian Parliament finally approved the legislation resolving the last open issues regarding the Slovenian minority in Italy. The legislation, welcomed by both the representatives of the Slovenian minority in Friuli-Venezia Giulia and the Slovenian government, started to be implemented in 2007, removing the last pending issue between the two countries. Since then, Italo-Slovene relations can be characterized as excellent. Although there do not appear to be any scheduled flights between the two countries and the train service, which used to be frequent, has been limited to one train a day in each direction (a night service from Budapest to Venice and back) until December 2011, when it was discontinued, thus leaving no railway connection between the two countries.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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| Template:Flag | See Kosovo–Slovenia relations
Slovenia has a record of supporting the U.S. position on Kosovo, both in regular public statements by top officials and on the Security Council. Prior and during the Kosovo War of 1999, Slovenian top government officials called repeatedly for Slobodan Milošević's compliance with NATO demands. Slovenia granted NATO use of its airspace and offered further logistical support. It also has pledged personnel to support NATO humanitarian operations in the region. Slovenia helped Macedonia deal with the refugee crisis by providing 880 million sit (US$4.9 million) of humanitarian aid, in addition to granting a concession for imported agricultural products. The Slovene Government allocated 45 million SIT (US$250,000) to help Albania, Montenegro, and the Republic of Macedonia, one-third of which went to the latter. Slovenia took in over 4,100 Kosovar refugees during the crisis. Slovenia recognized Kosovo on 5 March 2008.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Slovenia has an embassy in Pristina since 15 May 2008.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Kosovo has an embassy in Ljubljana. | |
| Template:Flag | See Latvia–Slovenia relations | |
| Template:Flag | See Moldova–Slovenia relations
Moldova recognized the Republic of Slovenia at an unknown date. Diplomatic relations were established on October 27, 1993. Both countries are represented in each other through their embassies in Budapest (Hungary). | |
| Template:Flag | 21 June 2006 | See Montenegro–Slovenia relations |
| Template:Flag | 25 June 1991 | See Netherlands–Slovenia relations
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| Template:Flag | See North Macedonia–Slovenia relations
The two countries have very close political and economic relations. Once part of SFR Yugoslavia, the two republics declared independence in 1991 (Slovenia in June, Macedonia in September) and recognised each other's independence on 12 February 1992.<ref name="ukom.gov.si">Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead link</ref> Diplomatic relations between both countries were established on 17 March 1992.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Slovenia supports North Macedonia's sovereignty, territorial integrity, its Euro-integration and visa liberalisation.<ref name="ukom.gov.si" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> A significant number of Slovenian investments ended up in North Macedonia. In 2007, about 70 million euros were invested.<ref name="Vecer Online">Template:Cite web</ref> In January 2009, the Macedonian prime minister Nikola Gruevski announced, that he expects more Slovenian investments in infrastructure and energy projects.<ref name="Vecer Online" /> Over 70 Slovenian companies are present on the Macedonian market.<ref name="ukom.gov.si" /> | |
| Template:Flag | 10 April 1992 |
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| Template:Flag | See Portugal–Slovenia relations
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| Template:Flag | 28 August 1992 | See Romania–Slovenia relations
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| Template:Flag | 25 May 1992 | See Russia–Slovenia relations
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| Template:Flag | 9 December 2000 | See Serbia–Slovenia relations
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| Template:Flag | See Slovakia–Slovenia relations | |
| Template:Flag | See Slovenia–Spain relations
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| Template:Flag | See Slovenia–Sweden relations
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| Template:Flag | 1992 |
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| Template:Flag | 10 March 1992 | See Slovenia–Ukraine relations
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| Template:Flag | 15 January 1992 | See Foreign relations of the United Kingdom
Slovenia established diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom on 15 January 1992.
Both countries share common membership of the Council of Europe, European Court of Human Rights, the International Criminal Court, NATO, OECD, OSCE, and the World Trade Organization. Bilaterally the two countries have a Double Taxation Convention,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and an Investment Agreement.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
See also
[edit]- List of diplomatic missions in Slovenia
- List of diplomatic missions of Slovenia
- List of ambassadors to Slovenia
- Foreign relations of Yugoslavia
References
[edit]External links
[edit]Template:Foreign relations of Slovenia Template:Foreign relations of Europe Template:Slovenia topics