Assessing Slovenia's European Union Presidency

Since emerging from the remains of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1991, Slovenia has enjoyed what is arguably the most successful path of all of the post-socialist states. In addition to a rapid consolidation of democratic rule (begun even before Slovenia declared its independence) and several routine transfers of power following free elections, Slovenia has experienced remarkable success in accomplishing its major foreign policy goals (Bukowski 2000). With this success it has raised its visibility both in Europe and globally and solidified its security in the most unstable part of the European continent. The core of Slovenia’s foreign policy strategy was simple—it sought membership in NATO and the European Union (EU). Both objectives were accomplished in 2004. Slovenia built on its EU accession success in 2006 when it became the first of the ten countries involved in the 2004 enlargement to adopt the Euro currency. It accomplished another first among the new entrants on 1 January 2008 when it took on the six-month responsibility of the EU presidency.