Weekly Review of Events Involving Slovenia from 7 to 14 July

Ljubljana, 14 July - Prime Minister Janez Drnovsek announced last week that the border agreement with Croatia could be passed by the Slovene government as early as July. The U.S. State Department was critical of Slovenia in its first annual report on illegal trafficking of persons. A delegation of the Slovene parliamentary foreign affairs committee paid a visit to Bosnia, while Mayor of Belgrade Radmila Hrustanovic visited the Slovene capital. Slovenia's preparations on EU membership were assessed positively in a special resolution on the issue by the European Parliamentary committee for foreign affairs. By delivering his speech "The Future of Europe - Debate", Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel has launched a broad public debate on the future of the EU in Slovenia. Issues that dominated the internal political scene were denationalisation and the activities of the non-parliamentary New Party, which is collecting signatures in support of a referendum on the transformation of duty-free shops.