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Slovenia

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Last reviewed: 29 September 2009

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Slovenia's Relations with the UK

Following the international recognition of Slovenia, diplomatic relations with the UK were quickly established. The Slovenian Embassy in London opened on 29 April 1992. The UK opened its Embassy in Ljubljana on 25 August 1992. The British Council has had representation in Ljublijana since 1992. A Slovenian consulate was opened in Edinburgh on 23 March 2005.

The UK and Slovenia enjoy excellent bilateral relations. There have been a number of ministerial and official visits in both directions (most recent listed below). The UK was strongly committed to supporting Slovenia’s accession to the EU and NATO. The UK works closely with Slovenia also within the EU, focusing on the Lisbon agenda, climate change and energy and the Millennium Development Goals.

There is a UK-Slovenia All-Party Parliamentary Group, chaired by John Austin MP, and an equivalent body in Slovenia, chaired by Andreja Rihter MP.

The trade between the UK and Slovenia is growing by about 10% a year. It amounted to 493 million GBP in 2008, which included medical products, industrial machinery, road vehicles, electrical machinery and office equipment. UK companies who have offices or representation in Slovenia include Glaxo SmithKline, Price Waterhouse Coopers, Unilever, Shell, Astra Zeneca and Castrol. In 2008, the British Chamber of Commerce in Slovenia was established.

In October 2008, HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh made a two-day State Visit to Slovenia at the invitation of President Türk to honour Slovenia's achievements during its period of independence, including its successful Presidency of the EU in the first half of the year.

Recent Visits to the UK

  • Jozef Jerovsek, Chair of Parliamentary Foreign Policy Committee, 20 February 2007
  • Dimitrij Rupel, Foreign Minister, 13 November 2007
  • Janez Janša, Prime Minister, 14 November 2007
  • Dr Danilo Türk, President, 12 March 2008
  • Borut Pahor, Prime Minister, 5 February 2009

Recent Vistis to Slovenia

  • Baroness Ashton, Parliamentary Under Secretary, Department of Constitutional Affairs, 1 March 2007
  • Lord Grenfell, 15 March 2007
  • Geoff Hoon, Minister for Europe, 23 May 2007
  • HRH The Duke of York, 17 September 2007
  • Jim Murphy, Minister for Europe, 5-6 November 2007.
  • Malcolm Wicks, Minister of State for Energy, 16 November 2007
  • Joan Ruddock, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, DEFRA, 16 November 2007
  • Angela Eagle, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, 16 November 2007
  • Parliamentary EU Scrutiny Committee, 20-21 November 2007
  • Michael Snyder, City of London Corporation, 11-12 December 2007
  • Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee, 8-10 January 2008
  • David Miliband, Foreign Secretary, 28 March 2008 (attending informal meeting of EU ministers)
  • HM the Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, 21-23 October 2008
  • David Miliband, Foreign Secretary (accompanying HM The Queen), 21-23 October 2008
  • Geoff Hoon, PM's European Adviser for Economic/Environmentsl issues, 30-31 August 2009
  • Mike Gapes, Chairman of Foreign Affairs Committee, House of Commons, 30-31 August 2009
  • Lord Grenfell of Kilvey, House of Lords, 30-31 August 2009
  • Lord Taylor of Holbeach, Shadow Spokesman, Environment, House of Lords, 30-31 August 2009

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