Estonia and Slovenia

27.07.2011

Relations between Estonia and Slovenia have been good over the years. The nations’ membership in the EU and NATO has given a multilateral aspect to bilateral relations. Similar positions and views provide a firm foundation for co-operation in international organisations.

The Republic of Slovenia first expressed its support for the re-establishment of Estonia's independence when Slovenia still belonged to the Yugoslavian Socialist Federal Republic. The Slovenian Parliament recognised the independence of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania on 16 May 1990 and as a legislative initiative, a motion was made to the parliament of the Yugoslavian Socialist Federal Republic to recognise the independence of the Baltic States. Yugoslavia recognised Estonia on 22 October 1991. After Slovenia attained independence on 25 June 1991, Estonia recognised the independent Republic of Slovenia on 25 September 1991. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on 11 December 1991.

Slovenia is represented in Estonia by its Embassy in Helsinki. The Slovenian ambassador to Estonia Tone Kajzer presented his credentials to President Toomas Hendrik Ilves in August 2009.

Slovenian ambassadors to Estonia:
Vojislav Šuc (2006–2009, resided in Stockholm)
Darja Bavdaž Kuret (2002–2006, resided in Stockholm)
Dragoljuba Benčina (1998–2001, resided in Stockholm)
Ivo Vajgl (1995–1996, resided in Stockholm)

Estonia began its diplomatic coverage of Slovenia from Vienna in May 1994, when embassy charge d’affaires Sven Jürgenson was accredited by Slovenia. Current ambassador Priit Pallum, residing in Budapest; presented his credentials to Slovenian President Danilo Türk on 20 January 2011.

Bilateral relations between Estonia and Slovenia became active during the first few years following Estonia’s re-independence. Reciprocal visits have occurred on the level of president, prime minister, and foreign minister. Estonia has initiated regular consultations between the foreign ministries of the countries. In January 2005, security policy-related consultations between the foreign ministries took place in Ljubljana. These consultations focused primarily on OSCE matters (Slovenia was the presidency of the OSCE in 2005).

In November of 2007, EU-themed consultations between the foreign ministries took place in Ljubljana. Due to Slovenia’s EU presidency in the first half of 2008, contacts with the country increased even more within the framework of various EU co-operation formats.

As both Estonia and Slovenia received invitations to begin OECD accession negotiations in 2007, Slovenia proposed to meet on the level of OECD experts. Among others, a meeting between Slovenia’s leading OECD negotiator Žiga Turk and Estonia’s leading OECD negotiator Marina Kaljurand took place on 14 October 2008.

The most important event in bilateral relations in 2008 was the working visit of President T.H. Ilves to Slovenia, primarily to discuss bilateral relations, Slovenia’s experiences in the EU presidency, European Union-Russia relations after the Russia-Georgia conflict, and the situation in the Western Balkans.

In February 2010 Slovenian Foreign Minister Samuel Žbogar visited Estonia. During that visit, positions on important European Union issues were exchanged. In December 2010 the visit of Slovenian Prime Minister Borut Pahor to Estonia took place, the main goal of which was to exchange experiences in getting out of the economic crisis.

Both Estonia and Slovenia’s accession negotiations with the OECD came to an end in 2010. Slovenia became a full member of the OECD in July 2010, Estonia in December 2010.

In May of 2011 Slovenian President Danilo Türk came to Estonia for a visit accompanied by ministers and a large business delegation.

Visits

Agreements

• Agreement Between the Government of the Republic of Estonia and the Government of the Republic of Slovenia (signed 05.07.1990);
• Agreement on Co-operation in the Field of Education, Culture and Science (came into force 14.07.1994);
• Agreement on the Organisation of International Road Transport (came into force 01.05.1995);
• Agreement on the Re-admission of Persons (came into force 07.11.1997);
• Agreement on the Mutual Abolishment of the Visa Requirements (came into force 07.11.1997);
• Agreement on Co-operation Between the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Estonia and the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Slovenia (signed 20.05.1999);
• Agreement Concerning the Cooperation in the Fight Against Organized Crime, Illicit Drug Trafficking and Terrorism (came into force 23.01.2004);
• Agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation and Prevention of Tax Evasion (came into force 26.06.2006).

Economic Relations

TRADE

The volume of trade between Estonia and Slovenia was rather limited between 2006 and 2011, amounting to no more than 0.1–0.2% of Estonia’s trade turnover.

In 2010 Slovenia was Estonia's 38th trade partner with a total turnover of 28.5 million euros.   Export totalled 4.2 million EUR and import 24.3 million EUR. The balance was a deficit of 20.1 million EUR.

The main export articles to Slovenia were the following: timber and wood products 27.4%; chemical products 22%; machinery and equipment 10.5%; paper pulp and related products 9.5%.

The main import articles from Slovenia were the following: chemical products (pharmaceuticals; essential oils, perfumery and cosmetic products) 59.2%; machinery and mechanical equipment 10.5%; other industrial products (furniture, mattresses, bed frames, pillows) 6.9%; paper pulp and related products 5%.
 

Trade 2006 - 2010 (in millions of EUR)

All the economical information is obtained from Statistics Estonia.

INVESTMENTS

According to the Bank of Estonia, the volume of Estonia’s direct investments into Slovenia in 2010 amounted to 0.1 million EUR. The main sectors for investment activity were wholesale and retail trade as well as real estate-related business.

According to the Bank of Estonia, the volume of Slovenia’s direct investments into Estonia amounted to (minus) 1.7 million EUR, with the main sectors being agriculture and forest management; the manufacturing industry; wholesale and retail trade; real estate-related business; and vocational, research, and technology-related activities.

According to information available from the Business Register, as of 1 April 2010 there are two companies with Slovenia’s participation registered in Estonia.

Within the framework of the visit of the president of Slovenia in May 2011 a business delegation visited Estonia as well. A business seminar at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and meetings between Slovenian and Estonian entrepreneurs took place.

TOURISM

Slovenian interest towards Estonia as a travel destination has increased According to accommodation statistics, slightly more than 1 000 Slovenian citizens visit Estonia per year. The number of Estonian visitors to Slovenia is in about the same range. In 2009 Estonian accommodation establishments welcomed 974 Slovenian tourists and in 2010 the number was 1 330 tourists. In 2009 travel agencies in Estonia sent 827 Estonian tourists to visit Slovenia.

Cultural Relations

Cultural relations between the two nations have not been very close.

The 26th Biennial of Graphic Arts took place in Slovenia in October 2005. Many well-known Estonian artists participated.

Olga and Priit Pärn were the artists in residence at the animation festival Animateka that took place in December 2010 in Ljubljana. An exhibit of the artists’ drawings was displayed in the gallery of the cinema house, a retrospective of Priit Pärn’s films was shown, and a master class was held for Slovenian film students.

Estonians in Slovenia

Currently there are only a few permanent Estonian residents in Slovenia. Besides them, you may also find Estonian exchange students studying at Ljubljana University for up to half a year through the Erasmus programme.