Croatia–Slovenia relations
Encyclopedia
Croatian-Slovenia relations are foreign relations between Croatia
and Slovenia
. Before 1991, both countries were part of Yugoslavia
. On June 26, 1991, a mutual recognition agreement was signed by both countries. Diplomatic relations between both countries were established on February 6, 1992. Croatia has an embassy in Ljubljana
and 2 honorary consulates in Maribor
and Koper. Slovenia has an embassy in Zagreb
and an honorary consulate in Split
. Both countries share 670 km of common border.
Relations between Slovenia and Croatia have been friendly, but burdened with constant disputes, including several unresolved minor border disputes, namely:
Other opened issues are the implementation of the joint management of the Krško Nuclear Power Plant, the financial compensation for the Croatian depositors who lost their savings in the liquidation of the Slovenian-based Yugoslav bank Ljubljanska banka.
Although, the most important disputed issue with Croatia is Slovenian and Italian opposition to the proclamation of the Croatian Ecological and Fisheries Protection Zone (Exclusive Economic Zone) in the Adriatic sea
.
In a series of high-level meetings since the latter half of 1998, Slovenia and Croatia have been engaged in settling bilateral differences, a process which accelerated after the death of Croatian President Franjo Tuđman in 1999. Slovenia has supported Croatia's entry in the European Union, but has demanded that the opened bilateral questions be resolved before Croatia's accession to the Union.
A referendum
was held June 6, 2010 in Slovenia regarding the ratification of the agreement on the arbitration between Slovenia and Croatia regarding the Gulf of Piran border dispute. Croatia and Slovenia agreed to let outside arbitrators come up with a plan to divide the Gulf in 2009 in the hopes of finding a resolution to the dispute and easing Croatia's entry to the Union. Though the parliaments in both Croatia and Slovenia ratified the agreement, the Slovene parliament
additionally voted to require a public referendum on the deal. According to the official results, published on June 29, 2010, by the National Electoral Commission, the agreement was supported by 51.54% of voters and opposed by 48.46% of voters. In October 2010, the Slovenian law on the ratification of the agreement was also unanimously recognized by the Slovenian Constitutional Court
as being in accordance with the Constitution of Slovenia
. The diplomatic notes about the agreement were exchanged between the Government of Slovenia
and Government of Croatia
on November 25, 2010. The agreement came into force on November 29, 2010.
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
and Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
. Before 1991, both countries were part of Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
. On June 26, 1991, a mutual recognition agreement was signed by both countries. Diplomatic relations between both countries were established on February 6, 1992. Croatia has an embassy in Ljubljana
Ljubljana
Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia and its largest city. It is the centre of the City Municipality of Ljubljana. It is located in the centre of the country in the Ljubljana Basin, and is a mid-sized city of some 270,000 inhabitants...
and 2 honorary consulates in Maribor
Maribor
Maribor is the second largest city in Slovenia with 157,947 inhabitants . Maribor is also the largest and the capital city of Slovenian region Lower Styria and the seat of the Municipality of Maribor....
and Koper. Slovenia has an embassy in Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
and an honorary consulate in Split
Split (city)
Split is a Mediterranean city on the eastern shores of the Adriatic Sea, centered around the ancient Roman Palace of the Emperor Diocletian and its wide port bay. With a population of 178,192 citizens, and a metropolitan area numbering up to 467,899, Split is by far the largest Dalmatian city and...
. Both countries share 670 km of common border.
Relations between Slovenia and Croatia have been friendly, but burdened with constant disputes, including several unresolved minor border disputes, namely:
- the division of former Yugoslav territorial waters, particularly in the Gulf of PiranGulf of PiranThe Gulf of Piran or Piran Bay is located in the northern part of the Adriatic Sea, and is a part of the Gulf of Trieste. It was named after the town of Piran, and its shores are shared by Croatia and Slovenia. It is delimited by a line connecting Cape Savudrija in the south to the Cape Madona ...
; - the hamlets of Bužini, MliniMliniMlini is a village in Croatia. It is connected by the D8 highway....
, Škodelini and Škrile located to the south of river DragonjaDragonjaDragonja is a river in Slovenia, in the northern part of the Istrian peninsula. It is the third longest river in Istria, after Raša and Mirna.The river is in length and flows into the Gulf of Piran....
in IstriaIstriaIstria , formerly Histria , is the largest peninsula in the Adriatic Sea. The peninsula is located at the head of the Adriatic between the Gulf of Trieste and the Bay of Kvarner...
, which were administered by Croatia from 1954, and which Slovenia claims as part of cadaster municipality SečovljeSecovljeSečovlje is a settlement in the Municipality of Piran in the Littoral region of Slovenia.-Overview:This is the last Slovenian settlement before the Slovenia-Croatia border. This village was once the centre of Slovenian salt production, now its main source of income is tourism at the Sečovlje...
; - the Sveta Gera (Trdinov vrh) peak in the Žumberak/GorjanciŽumberak/GorjanciŽumberak or Gorjanci is a range of mountains or hills between Croatia and Slovenia. The highest peak is Sveta Gera on the border between Croatia and Slovenia, being tall....
, with the Slovenian Army occupying barracks that lay partially in Croatian territory; - the changing meanders of the river Mura, near HotizaHotizaHotiza is a village to the west of Lendava in the Prekmurje region of Slovenia. It lies on the left bank of the Mura River, right on the border with Croatia....
and Sveti Martin na MuriSveti Martin na MuriSveti Martin na Muri is a municipality in Međimurje County, Croatia. There are 2,509 inhabitants, most of whom are Croats .-History:...
, where the situation in nature differs from the descriptions in official maps and documents.
Other opened issues are the implementation of the joint management of the Krško Nuclear Power Plant, the financial compensation for the Croatian depositors who lost their savings in the liquidation of the Slovenian-based Yugoslav bank Ljubljanska banka.
Although, the most important disputed issue with Croatia is Slovenian and Italian opposition to the proclamation of the Croatian Ecological and Fisheries Protection Zone (Exclusive Economic Zone) in the Adriatic sea
Adriatic Sea
The Adriatic Sea is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan peninsula, and the system of the Apennine Mountains from that of the Dinaric Alps and adjacent ranges...
.
In a series of high-level meetings since the latter half of 1998, Slovenia and Croatia have been engaged in settling bilateral differences, a process which accelerated after the death of Croatian President Franjo Tuđman in 1999. Slovenia has supported Croatia's entry in the European Union, but has demanded that the opened bilateral questions be resolved before Croatia's accession to the Union.
A referendum
Slovenian border dispute agreement referendum, 2010
A referendum on resolving the border dispute with Croatia was held in Slovenia on 6 June 2010. Voters were asked whether the dispute should be brought before an international arbitration tribunal...
was held June 6, 2010 in Slovenia regarding the ratification of the agreement on the arbitration between Slovenia and Croatia regarding the Gulf of Piran border dispute. Croatia and Slovenia agreed to let outside arbitrators come up with a plan to divide the Gulf in 2009 in the hopes of finding a resolution to the dispute and easing Croatia's entry to the Union. Though the parliaments in both Croatia and Slovenia ratified the agreement, the Slovene parliament
National Assembly (Slovenia)
The National Assembly is the general representative body of the Slovenian nation. According to the Constitution of Slovenia and the Constitutional Court of Slovenia, it is the major part of the distinctively incompletely bicameral legislative branch of the Republic of Slovenia. It is unicameral...
additionally voted to require a public referendum on the deal. According to the official results, published on June 29, 2010, by the National Electoral Commission, the agreement was supported by 51.54% of voters and opposed by 48.46% of voters. In October 2010, the Slovenian law on the ratification of the agreement was also unanimously recognized by the Slovenian Constitutional Court
Constitutional Court of Slovenia
The Constitutional Court of Slovenia is a special court established by the Slovenian Constitution. Since its inception, the Court has been located in the city of Ljubljana.-Jurisdiction:...
as being in accordance with the Constitution of Slovenia
Constitution of Slovenia
The Constitution of the Republic of Slovenia was adopted by the Slovenian National Assembly on December 23, 1991. The document is divided into ten chapters:# General Provisions# Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms# Economic and Social Relations...
. The diplomatic notes about the agreement were exchanged between the Government of Slovenia
Government of Slovenia
The Government of the Republic of Slovenia is the cabinet that excersises executive authority in Slovenia pursuant to the Constitution and the laws of Slovenia. It is also the highest administrative authority in Slovenia. It comprises the Prime Minister and 15 ministers, three of them without...
and Government of Croatia
Government of Croatia
The Government of the Republic of Croatia , commonly abbreviated to Croatian Government , is the main element of the executive branch of government in Croatia. It is led by the President of the Government , commonly abbreviated to premier...
on November 25, 2010. The agreement came into force on November 29, 2010.
See also
- Foreign relations of CroatiaForeign relations of CroatiaThe following page shows the foreign relations of Croatia from past history, current events, international disputes and foreign support.-History:...
- Foreign relations of SloveniaForeign relations of SloveniaSince Slovenia declared independence in 1991, its Governments have underscored their commitment in improving cooperation with neighbouring countries and to actively contribute to international efforts aimed at bringing stability to Southeast Europe. Resource limitations have nevertheless been a...
- Croatia–Slovenia border disputes
- Slovenia's blockade of Croatia's EU accessionSlovenia's blockade of Croatia's EU accessionThe border disputes as well as other unresolved issues between Slovenia and Croatia have existed since the independence of the two countries , most notably the border issue around the Piran Bay....