Slovenia
Executive Summary
Slovenia is one of the youngest European countries, having become an independent state in 1991 after the collapse of the Yugoslav federation. Slovenia's Constitution, adopted on 23 December 1991, exactly a year after the plebiscite for an independent state, provides for a parliamentary system of government.
Slovenia is among the most successful of the countries in transition from socialism to a market economy. It boasts a stable growth in GDP and ranks among the countries with the lowest degree of risk. The already completed privatisation process and many other measures are increasing the competitiveness of its economy directed towards the EU.
Since 2000 LDS (Liberal Democracy in Slovenia) leads a coalition government that has stable parliamentary support.
The Copenhagen Summit, the vote in the European parliament on 9 April 2003 and the signing of the European Union Accession Treaty on 16 April 2003 were the last steps towards the accomplishment of one of Slovenia’s primary foreign policy objectives- becoming a member of the European Union, in addition to the expected full NATO membership status in the spring of 2004.
The government and parliament have now adopted all the necessary legal documents to enable Slovenia to participate in all NATO activities. In particular, the amended Defence Act allows Slovenia to give assistance in defence to its allies and for foreign troops to be stationed on Slovenian soil.
Slovenian government has decided to end conscription in 2004. The process of professionalisation of the SAF will be completed in 2010. The country has achieved significant progress in the area of security issues, since the Classified Information Act was adopted in November 2001. Following the adoption of the Classified Information Act, the Office for the Protection of Classified Information was established by the Government decision in January 2002, which also acts as a National Security Authority in NATO context.
Sources used for the profile: Slovenian Government, Slovenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Slovenian Ministry of Defense, Bank of Slovenia, Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia, The European Commission, CIA World Factbook