- Title: SLOVENIA/BELGIUM: SLOVENIA EU ACCESSION PROFILE
- Date: 27th April 2004
- Summary: VILLAGE OF RADOVLJICA, SLOVENIA (RECENT) (REUTERS) LV OF HOUSES IN VILLAGE SLV HAY-RACK IN FIELD SLV MAN SOWING FIELD BY HAND LV OF SCENE LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA (RECENT) (REUTERS) CLOSE-UP OF DRAGON STATUE ON TROMOSTOVJE BRIDGE SLV PEOPLE WALKING WITH UMBRELLA'S ON BRIDGE MCU (Slovenian) JOZICA, 74-YEAR-OLD PENSIONER SAYING: "A good thing is that the world will now know much more about us. The world doesn't know much about us, Slovenians, right?" SLV GROUP OF PEOPLE STANDING IN STREET, CHATTING CLOSE UP OF WOMAN'S FACE SLV YOUNG MAN ON BICYCLE CROSSING STREET, CARS AND BUS PASSING MCU (Slovenian) UNIDENTIFIED MAN SAYING: "I hope things will improve. I think goods will be getting more expensive, even more expensive than now, but in my opinion, overall, it will be more positive than negative." MCU WOMAN LOOKING AT SHOP WINDOW, FROWNING SLV OF SHOPPING STREET MCU (English) JAKA, STUDENT FROM LJUBLJANA SAYING: "Most of the reforms, most of the things have already been done so I don't expect actually things will become either worse or better after the accession. I think we will live probably the same way as we live right now." LV LJUBLJANICA RIVER IN CENTRAL LJUBLJANA, PAINTING FLOATING ON RIVER AS PART OF ART PROJECT SV SHOP WINDOW WITH GRAFFITI READING "NO TO NATO" TOWN OF VELENJE, SLOVENIA (RECENT) (REUTERS) SLV OF ENTRANCE TO GORENJE FACTORY SV/SLV OF WOMEN WORKING IN FACTORY, ASSEMBLING REFRIGERATORS (4 SHOTS) MCU (Slovenian) URSULA MENIIH, SPOKESWOMAN FOR GORENJE GROUP SAYING: "We estimate that accession to the EU will also have a positive impact on us. Recognition and good reputation of Slovenia as an EU member will for sure improve the reputation of Slovenian companies and the identity of Gorenje's brand." SV OF ROBOT SORTING REFRIGERATORS OFF THE ASSEMBLY LINE IN AN AUTOMATED WAREHOUSE (2 SHOTS) BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (RECENT) (REUTERS) PAN EXTERIOR EUROPEAN COMMISSION BUILDING SLV SLOVENIA'S EUROPEAN AFFAIRS MINISTER AND RECENTLY APPOINTED EUROPEAN COMMISSIONER JANEZ POTOCNIK WALKING UP STAIRS (TALL, GLASSES) WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF SLOVENIAN DELEGATION SLV SLOVENIAN DELEGATES STANDING IN LOBBY, CHATTING MCU (English) JANEZ POTOCNIK SAYING: "We are bordering on this region, we believe that the message which was given to this so-called western Balkan region from the Thessaloniki summit was very clear - all these countries have European perspective, but the question is when they will become members. It is also quite clear that some of the countries, especially Croatia, are more advanced than the others - they are already waiting for the phase of final preparation. It is important that we keep an eye on this region because the recent events are showing us that it is very important that we somehow create a stable environment, peaceful environment under the umbrella which is in the European Union provided via the institutions which co-operate between themselves." GRUSKOVJE, SLOVENIA (RECENT) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF CONSTRUCTION WORKS AT NEW BORDER POST BETWEEN SLOVENIA AND CROATIA (4 SHOTS)
- Embargoed: 12th May 2004 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: KRVAVEC SKI RESORT, VILLAGE OF RADOVLJICA, LJUBLJANA, TOWN OF VELENJE, GRUSKOVJE BORDER CROSSING AND PRIMORSKA COASTAL REGION, SLOVENIA AND BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
- City:
- Country: Belgium Slovenia
- Topics: International Relations,Industry
- Reuters ID: LVA9HGKPWQ7OXJYIBKL6DLSH8DLY
- Aspect Ratio:
- Story Text: Asking to point Slovenia on the map will put some Europeans in a tight spot. The tiny Alpine republics flag is often mixed up with several others, while even senior politicians sometimes mistake it for Slovakia.
Although a little irritated by all this, hard-working and practical Slovenians have not been thrown off course. In their little corner of Europe on the sunny side of the Alps, they have worked hard on reforming their economy and society since 1990.
Analysts say Slovenia will see its accession to the European Union on May 1 as one of the best prepared entrants.
Unscathed by ethnic wars that tore apart the rest of former Yugoslavia, from which it split in 1991, the country quickly embraced market economy and today boasts a GDP per capita of 12,154 euros, similar to that in EU members Portugal and Greece.
Slovenians don't expect their lifestyle to change much after May 1.
"Most of the reforms, most of the things have already been done so I don't expect actually things will become either worse or better after the accession. I think we will live probably the same way as we live right now," said Jaka, a political science student from the capital Ljubljana.
Some of them, like 74-year old pensioner Jozica from Ljubljana, hope the accession will finally bring more recognition.
"A good thing is that the world will now know much more about us. The world doesn't know much about us, Slovenians, right?" she said.
Managers in household appliances maker Gorenje, the country's second largest exporter, also think more knowledge about the country will help their company gain stronger position in the common European market.
"We estimate that accession to the EU will also have a positive impact on us. Recognition and good reputation of Slovenia as an EU member will for sure improve the reputation of Slovenian companies and the identity of Gorenje's brand,"
Gorenje spokeswoman Ursula Menih told Reuters Television.
Gorenje announced last year it planned to become one of the top five European companies in its sector by 2006.
The company makes some 88 percent of its revenues on foreign markets, mostly in the EU but also in the countries of east and south-east Europe, mainly in former Yugoslavia.
EU membership will also result in disadvantages for a number of sectors of the Slovenian economy when on May 1, Slovenia's free-trade agreements with other former Yugoslav republics are cancelled and new tariffs -- as high as 30 percent -- are applied to Slovenian goods.
The tariffs will apply to all EU members, but Slovenia will be affected disproportionately because of its very strong trade ties and traditional markets in the Balkans.
Janez Potocnik, the European affairs minister and Slovenia's first European Commissioner, thinks the country's new status as the only former Yugoslav EU member gives it capacity and duty to be a stabilising force in the Balkans.
He is advocating Slovenia's active role in lobbying for the Western Balkans states place in the bloc.
"We are bordering on this region, we believe that the message which was given to this so-called western Balkan region from the Thessaloniki summit was very clear - all these countries have European perspective, but the question is when," he said during a recent visit to Brussels.
One issue that dents the country's near-perfect image and smooth relations with Brussels is a controversy over the so-called erased citizens.
Some 18,000 people who legally lived in Slovenia as citizens of Yugoslavia were erased from the register after failing to get the country's citizenship or renew their application for permanent residence when the country broke away from the federation.
The move meant that those people lost most of their civil rights connected with residence.
Despite proclamations by the country's highest court in October 2003, the issue remains unsolved.
Conservatives in the parliament and far right nationalists demanded the referendum on the issue and it was held last week.
Turnout was low at only 30 percent but the majority voted against reinstating rights to the erased citizens.
According to the legislation, the law will be overturned if a majority votes against it, regardless of the turnout.
Both the president and the prime minister boycotted the referendum.
Although the referendum is not legally binding, analysts say the outcome indicates rising nationalism in the country and is bad omen for the centre-left government.
From May 1, Slovenia will become the EU's southern border with the Balkans, although the country will not take full Schengen responsibilities until 2007.
Intense works are under way at several border crossing as Slovenia is trying to have its border inspection posts ready for a full implementation of the EU veterinary and phyto-sanitary control by May.
Another contentious issue Slovenia still has to deal with is a long-standing Adriatic sea border row with Croatia.
The two countries have been arguing over the ownership of the Piran Bay since they both proclaimed independence in 1991.
The matter was further complicated by Croatia's unilateral decision last year to impose a fishing and ecological zone in the Adriatic Sea.
The move leaves Slovenia's 47 kilometres of coast without direct access to international waters, although it retains transit rights.
The EU is urging both countries to find an agreement as soon as possible. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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