Slovenia: membership application and partnership, 10 June 1996

The committee adopted the report by Claudio MARTELLI (Non-attached, I) on Slovenia's application for membership of the EU and the state of the negotiations. The committee welcomed the progress that Slovenia had made in many areas such as its economic reform and the transposition of the "acquis communautaire". In particular it noted with approval that Slovenia had agreed to close its duty free shops by the end of the year, thus overcoming a significant obstacle to membership. The report underlined the constructive role that Slovenia had played in the recent conflicts in the region and felt that EU membership for Slovenia could be an important stabilising factor. The report concluded that Slovenia was "one of the best prepared countries for accession". �