Slovenia in the European Union

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Slovenia has been a member of the European Union since 2004.

Contents

History

Slovenia joined the European Union during the Great Enlargement of 2004, together with Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, and Slovakia.

Accession and further integration

Slovenia filed its request to join EU in 1996, just four years after becoming an independent state. On June 10, 1996, Slovenia signed the Accession Agreement with the EU. On March 31, 1998, Slovenia formally began its membership negotiations, adjusting its laws to acquis, and reforming its political system to fulfill the Copenhagen criteria. On February 1, 1999, Slovenia officially becomes an EU associate member, and ends its accession negotiations in 2002. [1]

Prior to joining the EU a referendum was held in Slovenia in which almost 90 % of voters voted in favor of EU membership. [1]

Slovenia held its first election to the European Parliament on June 13, 2003. First elected MEPs were Ljudmila Novak, Lojze Peterle, Jelko Kacin, Mojca Drčar Murko, Miha Brejc, Romana Jordan Cizelj and Borut Pahor. [1]

On January 1, 2007, Slovenia becomes the first members state of the 2004 enlargement to adopt Euro as its official currency. On December 27, 2007, Slovenia also joins the Schengen Area. [1]

From January 1, 2008, until June 30, 2008, Slovenia held its first presidency of the Council of the European Union, as the first new member after 2004 enlargement. [1]

Slovenia in EU institutions

Slovenia in the Council of the EU

Slovenia is represented in the Council of the European Union by the Government. Usually ministers represent the state, but also state secretaries, permanent representative or deputy permanent representative can represent Slovenia in the meetings.

Current representation

ConfigurationResponsible ministry
General Affairs (GAC)
Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs (general)
Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development (cohesion)
Ministry of Digital Transformation (digitalization)
Foreign Affairs (FAC)
Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs (general, development)
Ministry of Defence (defence)
Ministry of Economy, Tourism and Sport (trade)
Economic and Financial Affairs (Ecofin)
Ministry of Finance
Agriculture and Fisheries (Agrifish)
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food
Justice and Home Affairs (JHA)
Ministry of Justice (justice)
Ministry of the Interior (home affairs)
Ministry of Defence (civil protection)
Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs (EPSCO)
Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities (employment, social protection, equal opportunities)
Ministry of Health (health)
Ministry of Economy, Tourism and Sport (consumer protection)
Competitiveness (COMPET)
Ministry of Economy, Tourism and Sport (internal market, industry, space, tourism)
Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation (research)
Transport, Telecommunications and Energy (TTE)
Ministry of Infrastructure (transport)
Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Energy (energy)
Ministry of Digital Transformation (telecommunications)
Environment (ENV)
Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Energy (environment)
Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning (water, nature)
Education, Youth, Culture and Sport (EYC)
Ministry of Education (education, youth)
Ministry of Economy, Tourism and Sport (sport)
Ministry of Culture (culture, audiovisual issues)

Presidency of the Council

Slovenia held the presidency of the Council twice since 2004, in the first half of 2008 and the second half of 2021. Next Slovenian presidency is not yet scheduled. The first presidency was led by the first Janša government and held prior to the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty and therefore Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša also presided over then informal meetings of the European Council. The second presidency was also led by Janša's government.

Slovenia is a member of the first presidency trio together with Germany and Portugal.

Slovenia in the European Council

Slovenia is represented in the European Council by the prime minister, because of its parliamentary system of government.

Current representative of Slovenia in the European Council is Prime Minister Robert Golob, member of the liberal bloc (Renew).

Slovenia in the European Parliament

Slovenia currently has 9 members of the European Parliament (change after 2024 election), representing Slovenian and all other European citizens. Slovenian MEPs never held any position in the leadership of the Parliament.

Current MEPs

MEPGroupPositions
Romana Tomc EPP
Milan Zver EPP
Branko Grims EPP
Zala Tomašič EPP
Matej Tonin EPP
Vladimir Prebilič G/EFA
Matjaž Nemec S&D
Irena Joveva Renew
Marjan Šarec Renew

Group leadership positions

In 2014-2019 term Tanja Fajon (S&D), then a second term MEP, was elected vice-president of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats Group, the first ever Slovenian MEP to hold group leadership position. In 2024-2029 term Romana Tomc was elected vice-president of the European People's Party Group, and Irena Joveva was elected vice-president of the Renew Europe.

Slovenia in the European Commission

Since becoming a member of the EU Slovenia has been entitled to a one member of the European Commission. Slovenia has never held a presidency or vice-presidency of the commission.

CommissionerParty/GroupTerm beganTerm endedPortfolioCommission
Janez Potočnik ALDE 1 May 200421 November 2004 Enlargement Prodi
22 November 20049 February 2010 Science and Research Barroso I
9 February 201031 October 2014 Environment Barroso II
Violeta Bulc ALDE 1 November 201430 November 2019 Transport Juncker
Janez Lenarčič Renew 1 December 2019Incumbent Crisis Management von der Leyen
Tomaž Vesel Renew TBD

Additionally in 2014, incumbent Primer Minister Alenka Bratušek was a candidate for a vice-president for the Energy Union in the Juncker Commission, but did not pass the hearing in the European Parliament. She was later replaced by Deputy Prime Minister and Cohesion Minister in the Cerar Government Violeta Bulc. President Juncker switched portfolios of the Slovenian commissioner for a Transport portfolio and offered the Vice-Presidency of the Energy Union portfolio to a Slovak Maroš Šefčovič. [2]

Slovenians in the EEAS

Several Slovenian diplomats served in the European External Action Service (EEAS) as heads of missions of the European Union around the world. The first diplomat to serve in the EU diplomatic service was former foreign minister Samuel Žbogar, serving in Kosovo (2011-2016).

EU AmbassadorCountryTerm
Samuel Žbogar Flag of Kosovo.svg Kosovo (Pristina)
also EU Special Representative to Kosovo		2011–2016
Flag of North Macedonia.svg North Macedonia (Skopje)2016–2020
Mitja Drobnič Flag of Montenegro.svg Montenegro (Podgorica)2012–2016
Jernej Videtič Flag of Guyana.svg Guyana (Georgetown)2015–2019
Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg Papua New Guinea (Port Moresby)2019–2022
Melita Gabrič Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada (Ottawa)2021–Incumbent
Veronika Bošković-Pohar Flag of the Taliban.svg Afghanistan (Kabul)TBD
Aleška Simkić Flag of Kazakhstan.svg Kazakhstan (Astana)TBD

European Commission's representation in Slovenia

Head of RepresentationTerm
Zoran Stančič 2016–2020
Jerneja Jug Jerše 2021–Incumbent

Slovenia in the Court of Justice

Court of Justice

Marko Ilešič was the first and for now the only judge to serve on the Court of Justice in the name of Slovenia, serving from 2004 until 2024. He was a president of a chamber for two terms (2012–2018).

JudgeTerm beganTerm endedPositions
Marko Ilešič 1 May 200421 June 2024President of Chamber (2012–2018)
TBDVacant

Additionally to Judge Ilešič, Verica Trstenjak served as Advocate General at the Court of Justice (7 October 2006–28 November 2012).

General Court

Slovenia is entitled to two judges at the General Court.

Position 1 [3] Position 2 [3]
JudgeTerm beganTerm endedPositionsJudgeTerm beganTerm endedPositions
Verica Trstenjak 7 July 20046 October 2006
Miro Prek 6 October 200626 October 2019President of Chamber (2013-2019)
Maja Brkan 6 July 2021Incumbent Damjan Kukovec 13 January 2022Incumbent

Two candidates, Marko Pavliha and Klemen Podobnik, did not pass the hearings before the committee, established according to Article 255 of TFEU. [4] [5]

European Public Prosecutor's Office

Slovenia is a participating state in the European Public Prosecutor's Office since 2019.

European ProsecutorTerm
Jaka Brezigar 2020-Incumbent

The Janša Appointment Affair

During the Slovenia's second Council presidency in 2021 Slovenian government, then led by Janez Janša, prevented the selection of two Slovenian delegated prosecutors, because of which then justice minister Lilijana Kozlovič resigned. ORF and other media reported that Janša might have opposed the nomination of the two prosecutors because they had also been involved in investigations against him in the past. [6] EU justice commissioner Didier Reynders proposed a compromise to appoint just one delegated prosecutor, but this was rejected by economy minister Zdravko Počivalšek as overstepping governments' competence and criticising the EU for exerting pressure. [6] Slovenia was also urged to appoint delegated prosecutor by the Commission president Ursula von der Leyen during European Commission's visit to Slovenia on 6 July 2021. [7]

Slovenia in other institutions

The European Committee of the Regions includes seven Slovenian members and their deputies who act in the name of two representative organisations of Slovenian local communities: the Association of Municipalities and Towns of Slovenia and the Association of Municipalities of Slovenia. [8]

The European Economic and Social Committee has seven Slovenian members that represent the interests of employers, trade unions and other interest groups. [8]

The Governor of the Bank of Slovenia sits in the Governing Council of the European Central Bank while other experts from the Bank of Slovenia operate in its working bodies. [8]

Permanent mission to the EU

Permanent Representative

Permanent Representative of Slovenia in the EU is a diplomat in the rank of ambassador who represents Slovenia in COREPER II, all configuration that fall within the scope of COREPER II (judiciary and internal affairs, trade policy, EU enlargement, finance and regional policy, EU foreign and security policy), and all other official relations between Slovenia and EU and relations with other member states. [9]

Current Permanent Representative is Ambassador Iztok Jarc, former Minister of Agriculture. [9]

Deputy Permanent Representative

Permanent Representative of Slovenia in the EU is a diplomat in the rank of ambassador who represents Slovenia in COREPER I, all configuration that fall within the scope of COREPER I (economy, single market and industry, agriculture, fisheries, forestry, veterinary medicine, environment, health, infrastructure, telecommunication, energy, education, science, youth policies, sport, employment, social affairs and culture). [9]

Current Deputy Permanent Representative is Ambassador David Brozina. [9]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Časovnica Slovenije v EU - Evropska komisija". slovenia.representation.ec.europa.eu (in Slovenian). Retrieved 2024-06-27.
  2. ↑ T, A. P. J. , B. "Odbora za energijo in okolje zavrnila Alenko Bratušek". rtvslo.si (in Slovenian). Retrieved 2024-06-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. 1 2 "Terms of office since 1989 - Court of Justice of the European Union". CURIA. Retrieved 2024-06-27.
  4. ↑ K, G. "Pavliha potrdil, da so njegovo kandidaturo v Bruslju zavrnili". rtvslo.si (in Slovenian). Retrieved 2024-06-27.
  5. ↑ Ma, Al. "Po Pavlihi naj bi v Luksemburgu zavrnili tudi Klemna Podobnika". rtvslo.si (in Slovenian). Retrieved 2024-06-27.
  6. 1 2 red, ORF at/Agenturen (2021-05-27). "Slowenien: Ministerin in Streit mit Jansa zurückgetreten". news.ORF.at (in German). Retrieved 2024-07-05.
  7. ↑ "Slovenia's EU presidency off to a rough start". euronews. 2021-07-06. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
  8. 1 2 3 "Slovenia in the European Union | GOV.SI". Portal GOV.SI. Retrieved 2024-06-27.
  9. 1 2 3 4 "About the Permanent Representation to the European Union Brussels | GOV.SI". Portal GOV.SI. Retrieved 2024-06-27.
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