Check the date at the top of the page, and you can find all the "morning headlines" stories here. You can also follow us on Facebook and get all the news in your feed.

A schedule of all the main events involving Slovenia this week can be found here

This summary is provided by the STA:

Next EU Council president Michel optimistic about Brexit deal

LJUBLJANA - PM Marjan Šarec and his Belgian counterpart Charles Michel, the next president of the European Council, were optimistic the UK and the EU could still reach an agreement on Brexit as Michel visited Slovenia as he prepares to assume the new EU top job. Michel hopes London and Brussels could reach a Brexit deal, saying it would take willingness to find a solution in the coming weeks. Šarec agreed, saying he was convinced that as the new president of the EU Council, Michel would respect the rule of law, including in Schengen zone enlargement.

Bilateral ties, Schengen zone expansion in focus of Dutch FM visit

LJUBLJANA - Bilateral ties and Schengen zone expansion topped the agenda as Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok met his counterpart Miro Cerar, with the pair urging respect for international law and dedication to multilateralism. As for Schengen zone expansion, with Croatia tipped as the next country to enter, the ministers stressed new members needed to meet all conditions. Asked whether Croatia met all the conditions, Cerar only said "we're still waiting for a report" from the European Commission, and that it was a question for the Interior Ministry. Blok said the Netherlands wanted to be fair in deciding on any expansion of the Schengen zone and wanted to assess whether the border control procedures were adequate.

Foreign and EU affairs committees discuss Schengen expansion

LJUBLJANA - The parliamentary foreign policy and EU affairs committees met for a joint session behind closed doors late today to discuss Slovenia's position on the expansion of the Schengen area. No formal decisions were expected to be taken, with the idea being to notify the committees and invite them to help form a position. The session followed reports that the European Commission is about to give Croatia the go-ahead to join the passport-free area. However, Foreign Policy Committee chair Matjaž Nemec said yesterday the debate on the committees would go beyond the expansion to Croatia.

Concerned about leaks, intel agency not yielding staffing info

LJUBLJANA - The national intelligence agency SOVA, declined to give the parliamentary Intelligence Oversight Commission information on the agency's staffing, requested in the wake of allegations that PM Marjan Šarec had intervened to secure a job to his female friend. The main reason is that SOVA is concerned the information would not be kept secret. In a letter to the commission, SOVA said that after the commission conducted oversight at the agency last week, one of the MPs leaked information obtained during the visit to the media.

Austria and Slovenia entering year of dialogue with music

VIENNA, Austria/LJUBLJANA - Austria and Slovenia launched a year of dialogue between neighbours, as part of which some 120 cultural, scientific, educational and other events are planned in the two countries until the autumn of 2020. The year of neighbourly dialogue opened simultaneously as the capitals of Ljubljana and Vienna hosted two jazz concerts. The year of dialogue is an initiative of Foreign Minister Miro Cerar and his former Austrian counterpart Karin Kneissl to deepen cooperation. Austria has had similar campaigns with Albania, Bosnia, Croatia, Serbia and Ukraine.

Minority reps concerned about parliament reform in Italy

LJUBLJANA - Representatives of the Slovenian minority in Italy expressed concern over the law that will drastically reduce the number of seats in the Italian parliament as of next election, and believe that the urgent next move should be to secure parliamentary representation of the minority with a relevant law. The law, passed yesterday, would affect representation from Friuli Venezia Giulia, the north-easternmost region of Italy which is home to a sizeable Slovenian minority.

Central bank pulls brake on consumer loans

LJUBLJANA - After issuing a set of recommendations last November to warn against imprudent consumer lending practices, Banka Slovenije will introduce binding restrictions in November as it also stiffens a set of conditions for consumer loans. One of the main restrictions is the maximum 84-month maturity for consumer loans, down from 120 months recommended last year. Some changes will also apply to housing loans. "This is also to let the public know where the limits of healthy borrowing lie," Vice-Governor Primož Dolenc told the press.

Deal emerging to protect Slovenian Mercator suppliers

LJUBLJANA - Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek expects that a draft agreement creating safeguards for Slovenian suppliers of retailer Mercator after its transfer to Fortenova will be ready soon. Počivalšek spoke to the press after meeting representatives of Mercator suppliers, its bankrupt Croatian owner Agrokor, Agrokor's successor Fortenova, and its key creditor, Russian Sberbank, following reports that Fortenova was planning to cut off the Slovenia-based core company from its subsidiaries in Croatia, Bosnia and Serbia. He was assured the retail group would not be cut up into pieces.

Slovenian industry showcased in visiting CERN

GENEVA, Switzerland - Representatives of the government and Slovenian companies are visiting the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Geneva until Thursday as part of efforts to boost the country's cooperation with this top research facility. Day of Slovenian Industry features representatives of 24 Slovenian companies active in various fields. Around 20 Slovenian scientists currently cooperate with CERN. Martin Steinacher, CERN director for finance and human resources, said there was no doubt that Slovenian companies could successfully cooperate with CERN as well.

Slovenia remains 35th in global competitiveness rankings

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia remained 35th in the 2019 World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Report, scoring 70.2 points on a scale from 0 to 100, up from 69.6 points in 2018. It received the maximum 100 points for its macroeconomic stability and 90 points for the situation in the health sector, but fared the worst in the size of its market (48 points). The country improved its overall performance calculated from 12 pillars, by 0.6 points compared to 2018, when it climbed 13 spots due to changes in the methodology. Singapore overtook the US to claim the first place among 141 countries.

Koper port reports higher Q3 revenue

KOPER - Luka Koper, the operator of Slovenia's sole maritime port, saw its net sales revenue grow at an annual rate of 3% in the first three quarters of the year to EUR 170 million, mainly due to a growth in liquid cargo throughput. Overall cargo throughput increased minimally, by 78,000 to 17.74 million tonnes, show figures posted by the company on the website of the Ljubljana Stock Exchange.

Panel hears govt dares not to embark on serious tax reform

PORTOROŽ - Experts who gathered for a panel on taxes in Portorož believe that the government-proposed tweaks to tax legislation are only "cosmetic changes" and that no finance minister in Slovenia dares to embark on a serious reform because of the fear from a temporary loss of tax-related revenue. The participants pointed to the need to reduce the tax burden on entrepreneurs to stimulate higher wages and expenditure. The panel was the concluding event of a two-day tax and finance conference hosted by the training and networking company Planet GV in cooperation with several partners.

Show chronicles 15th-century Ljubljana, first bishop

LJUBLJANA - The National Gallery launched an exhibition on the 15th-century Ljubljana, vivid yet little known times when the town was promoted to diocese and got its first bishop. "The Great City of Ljubljana and its First Bishop Sigismund Lamberg (1420-1488)" brings a number of objects and documents related to the establishment of the diocese and the appointment of the bishop. Ljubljana was made a diocese and Lamberg appointed bishop by Emperor Frederick III in 1461. A year later, the pope confirmed Ljubljana as the diocese and gave the Church of St Nicholas the status of cathedral.

Exhibition honours Slovenians in US

LJUBLJANA - An exhibition entitled Slovenians in the US Today was opened in the park in front of the Slovenian parliament. The show was put up in cooperation with Joe Valenčič, an American with Slovenian roots, who prepared 10 boards showing how Slovenian culture and language continue to be nurtured by the Slovenian community in the US. Valenčič, a lecturer of Slovenian-US history, said there were over 500,000 Slovenian emigrants living in the US. Most of them had settled in large industrial or mining towns, while some had formed farming communities that continue to thrive.

Visiting Ljubljana? Check out what's on this week, while all our stories on Slovenia, from newest to oldest, are here

If you're learning Slovenian then you can find all our dual texts here

NOTE: This advice was accurate as of 9 October 2019, but may be subject to changE. For the very latest information you can read the GOV.UK Living in Slovenia Guide (http://bit.ly/2W6cwQb) and sign up for updates (http://bit.ly/LiG-SLO-SignUp); and subscribe to British Embassy in Ljubljana's newsletter: (http://bit.ly/UKNinSLO-News)

The British Embassy recently hosted a Q&A on Brexit on its Facebook page, but this is difficult to search and not much of a permanent record. So with the permission of the Embassy and questions edited to remove personal details, here’s what people asked and what the Embassy replied - scroll down for everything or click on the following headings.

Residency / Work / Doing business

Imports, exports, goods and services

Property / Healthcare / Family / Education

Dual nationality / Driving licences / Wills / Child benefit

The Embassy / More questions?

Residency

How will becoming a temporary resident be affected by no deal?

You will still be able to apply for temporary residence, set up a business and buy property as a non-EU national. The criteria for doing this is different for EU and non-EU nationals. If you are planning on staying in Slovenia we advise that you register for temporary residency as soon as possible at a local Upravna Enota (Office for Foreigners) and acquire an EU status 5 year temporary residency permit.

With this permit you will be entitled to remain in Slovenia and have the same rights and benefits as an EU national would with a few exceptions such as onward movement (eg relocating to another EU member state). You can then apply to become a permanent resident in Slovenia after 5 continuous years of residency.

If you apply for residency after Brexit then you can still apply for residency on the basis of an EU national within 6 months from Exit day. You would however only receive a 1 year permit. After 1 year you would need to apply as a third country national and there are different criteria for doing this such as being self-employed, pensioner, family reasons or property.

If Britain drops out of the EU on 31 October, what will be the process for permanent residents to ensure they retain their residency status? If a deal is done then what will be the process and will the transition period be 20 months as per the proposed deal or will it be until December 2020 (13 months)?

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, your residency status will continue until its current expiry. You will need to exchange your current residence permit for a new one, noting that the UK is no longer part of the EU. You must do this within one year of exit day. The UK government would prefer to leave with a deal and it is working in a determined way to get one. Under the current Withdrawal Agreement the Implementation Period will last until 31 December 2020. If a deal is reached, we will further provide information on the process required in that scenario to maintain legal residence in Slovenia.

I currently have temporary residence in Slovenia. Would there be any advantage in switching this to permanent before Brexit?

Ultimately this is a personal choice, but if you have legally lived in Slovenia for a continuous period of 5 years then you may wish to do obtain a permanent residency document. A permanent residence document can be useful when dealing with the authorities or for administrative formalities. To learn how to register as a permanent resident, please visit our Living in Slovenia Guide (www.gov.uk/living-in-slovenia).

In its page on residency and Brexit the EU refers to “EU long-term resident status”, and states:

"This permit will grant you a permanent status, and allow you to enjoy the same treatment as nationals regarding access to employment, education, and core social benefits. This will also allow you, under certain conditions, to acquire the right to reside in another EU Member State."

Does this still apply under no deal, and where can we learn more about applying for this status in Slovenia?

The 'EU long-term residence permit' is equivalent to the permanent residence permit issued to EU nationals in Slovenia. In the event of a no deal Brexit, Slovenia's parliament has passed legislation to enable UK nationals who are permanent residents in Slovenia to maintain most rights enjoyed by EU citizens. Slovenia's no deal legislation can be found through the link below: http://pisrs.si/Pis.web/pregledPredpisa?id=ZAKO8007#

Work

In the event of no deal, will professional qualifications gained in the UK continue to be recognized in Slovenia, and vice versa?

Both the UK and Slovenia will continue to recognize professional qualifications previously accredited before Brexit. The UK and Slovenia will also evaluate applications made before Brexit under pre-exit rules, even if review takes place after Brexit. In the event of a no deal Brexit, we understand that Slovenia will evaluate UK professional qualifications under the rules it currently applies to third country nationals.

Doing business

How will no deal affect setting up a business in Slovenia?

For setting up a business in Slovenia you may wish to contact the British Slovenian Chamber of Commerce who will be able to provide information about doing this as a non-EU national. For more information on this please visit www.bscc.si or the Slovenian Chamber of Commerce at https://eng.gzs.si/.

Imports, exports, goods and services

Can you tell us what will happen to any goods imported from the UK, in the event of no deal? Will goods, even small orders for UK products be subject to additional taxes and duty?

The EU will apply tariffs to UK goods in case of a no deal exit. Details of these tariffs can be found here https://ec.europa.eu/.../import-and.../import-into-eu/

Under the UK’s proposals for a deal, the UK and Ireland will collect their own customs duties according to their respective customs legislation. The vast majority of consignments will be cleared within seconds by HMRC without any documentation of physical checks needed.

In case the UK leaves without a deal, it will continue in this vain with no border checks at Dover. The EU importer will need to liaise with the UK exporter and the electronic paperwork will need to be completed on the UK side. The UK exporter will need to be registered for an Economic Operators Identity. More details are here https://ec.europa.eu/trade/import-and-export-rules/import-into-eu

Please also see the attached handout for businesses (http://bit.ly/2IkLvUE) which outlines the preparations businesses should be making in case the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

How should service providers to / from the UK prepare for Brexit?

If you are a UK service provider in Slovenia you can continue to provide services in Slovenia until the end of your contract (regardless of how the UK exits the EU). After this time you will become a third country national Service provider and will need to check with the relevant regulatory body on continuation of providing services.

Please visit the Slovene Chamber of Commerce website for more details (https://eng.gzs.si/) and the Slovene government website for further information (https://www.gov.si/en/registries/projects/brexit/). You can also use the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. email if you have specific questions about providing services in Slovenia.

If you are a Slovene Service provider in the UK you will be able to continue to provide services and renew your contracts as a third country national once the UK has exited the EU but additional paperwork may be required. Further information on this can be found on www.gov.uk

Property

Will I still be able to buy property in Slovenia?

Regarding the purchase of property as a non-EU national, UK nationals will still fall under OECD rules on property rights and will therefore be able to acquire property in Slovenia under these rules after Brexit.

If No Deal, what effect is it likely to have on those of us who own a holiday home in Slovenia?

Property rights will not be affected by Brexit. If there is a no deal Brexit, UK nationals will be able to visit the Schengen Area for up to 90 days within a 180 day period. If you want to spend more time in Slovenia, you will need to apply for a visa and/or residence. Slovenia has outlined its residency regulations for a no deal Brexit in its no deal contingency regulation, which can be found below: http://www.pisrs.si/Pis.web/pregledPredpisa?id=ZAKO8007.

The Ministry of Interior are happy to answer questions about no deal Brexit and residency, you may wish to contact the relevant unit at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Healthcare

What will happen to the EHIC with or without a deal? Is it true that British expats will no longer be entitled to any healthcare in the UK, in the event of a deal or no deal?

If the UK leaves the EU with a deal, you will be able to continue using your EHIC as you do now for the duration of the Implementation Period.

In the event of a no deal Brexit, the UK is seeking in parallel an EU-wide approach or bilateral arrangements with Member States to transitionally continue the current social security coordination rules, including reciprocal healthcare, in full until the end of December 2020. Current reciprocal healthcare arrangements also include EHIC rights. This will protect the rights of individuals who live in, move to, visit or work in the UK or EU until 31 December 2020.

If an agreement is not reached, UK-issued EHICs will no longer be valid in Slovenia. If you are resident in Slovenia, you should seek healthcare coverage through the Health Insurance Institute of Slovenia (ZZZS). To ensure continuity of cover, the UK Government has committed to continue to pay for state-funded healthcare for UKNs currently in Slovenia, for a period of 6 months while you transfer to ZZZS. (http://bit.ly/2o9KmIk).

After the UK leaves the EU, UK insureds will continue to have the right to free NHS care when temporarily visiting England, Scotland and Wales. They will also be eligible for NHS care if they move permanently back to the UK (including Northern Ireland).

What advice would you give to British pensioners on fixed incomes who are unable to afford additional insurance in Slovenia? Will there be funds available to help repatriate them for NHS treatment, if needed?

It is important people think about their own needs and circumstances and look at their options carefully by checking the Living in Slovenia guide, NHS Slovenia country page and speaking to ZZZS.

After the UK leaves the EU, those who have an S1 form will continue to have the right to free NHS care when temporarily visiting England, Scotland and Wales. They will also be eligible for NHS care if they move permanently back to the UK (including Northern Ireland).

In the first 6 months the UK Government has put in place emergency provisions to provide bespoke support to people who find themselves in a challenging healthcare situation (i.e. requiring urgent treatment) due to a change in their healthcare cover after Brexit (http://bit.ly/2o9KmIk).

Family

What will happen to the EEA Family permit in the event of deal or no deal?

Your spouse will be able to visit the UK after 31 October, provided they comply with UK immigration policy. Under the current Withdrawal Agreement nothing will change until the end of the Implementation Period, which will last until 31 December 2020.

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, it is possible that the EEA Family Permit route to visiting the UK will cease, because the UK national will no longer be an EU national. In this case, your spouse would need to apply for a visit visa (or settlement visa if you plan to stay).

For more information please visit: https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families

Will UK citizens who are married to Slovenes be able to move with their families to the UK without conditions, or will there be a minimum earnings threshold?

UK Nationals can return to the UK at any time. Existing close family members of UK Nationals (spouses, civil partners, unmarried partners, children, grandchildren and dependent parents and grandparents) who return from living in the EU by 29 March 2022 can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme.

Future spouses and partners of UK Nationals who return from living in the EU by 31 December 2020 can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme. Dependent relatives of UK Nationals who previously lived in the EU with that family member can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme until 31 December 2020.

After these dates UK Immigration Rules will apply as it does for other UK Nationals returning from abroad.

Will elderly parents of UK citizens who live in Slovenia be able to move here to live with their children, or will there be restrictions?

While the UK remains in the EU, elderly parents of UK nationals resident in Slovenia should be able to live in Slovenia, provided they comply with relevant regulations (depending on whether the parent is an EU national or third country national). In the event of a no deal Brexit, provisions for family reunification are outlined in Slovenia's no deal contingency legislation.

Our understanding of the legislation suggests that close family members are entitled to the same rights as a resident, whatever time they join them, and have permission to reside. You may need to demonstrate sufficient financial resources to support an individual's parents.

Education

My son plans to go to university next year. He has permanent residency in Slovenia and has lived here since he was five years old. He would like to study in The Netherlands. Currently the course fee's for EU students are €2,200 Euro, but €12,000 Euro for a non-EU student. How will he be classed? I was also told that he if goes to the UK, because he has been out of the UK for more than 10 years, he will be classed as an international student there too.

If your son is planning to attend university in the UK next year (academic year 2020/2021) and is either a UK or EU national he will qualify for home fee status for the duration of his course. If your son has lived outside the UK for more than 10 years this should not affect his status if he holds EU citizenship for the duration of his study.

If your son is planning to work in the UK after his studies he may also consider the 'graduate immigration route’. (Available to undergraduates and upwards - primarily aimed at furthering post-grad/work experience for new graduates.) This allows for overseas/EU students to stay and work in the UK at any skill level for 2 years. After the 2 years ex-students will be able to switch onto the skilled work route if they find a relevant job for their skills.

For further information on student finance please visit https://www.gov.uk/student-finance-calculator to find out what your son can qualify for.

In regards to studying in the Netherlands, the Netherlands government have published information here:

https://www.government.nl/.../how-will-brexit-affect...

Should you require more information, please contact British Embassy The Hague:

www.gov.uk/contact-consulate-the-hague

Dual nationality

Is it still possible to apply for Slovenian citizenship and keep my UK passport?

The Slovene Ministry of Interior have confirmed to us that UK nationals are able to apply for dual citizenship while the UK remains part of the EU. Applications lodged prior to Brexit will treat the applicant on the same terms as an EU national, even if the review process takes place after exit.

Will Slovenes still be able to get dual nationality in the UK through marriage (and thus vice versa, since it seems to be reciprocal)?

Dual citizenship is permitted in the UK. The Slovene nationals who are married/in civil partnership with a UK national will be able to obtain UK citizenship if they meet the criteria outlined below: https://www.gov.uk/british-citizenship

I am a dual national of Slovenia and the United Kingdom. Will there be any changes for dual nationals after a possible No deal Brexit?

Your dual national status will not be affected in case the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

Driving licences

The last gov.uk publication on UK driving licence said that Slovenia would accept UK driving licence. You will just require an International Driving Permit for visits over 90 days.

https://www.gov.uk/.../driving-in-the-eu-after-brexit...

You are correct that visitors to Slovenia for 90 days or less will not need an International Driving Permit (IDP). However we advise all Brits living here to read carefully the Slovene government's guidance on driving licences here (http://bit.ly/2u8gNX2).

The Living in Slovenia Guide continues to advise all UK nationals living in Slovenia to exchange their UK driving licence for a Slovene driving licence before the UK leaves the EU (www.gov.uk/living-in-slovenia).

My UK driving licence has the EU flag on it – will I need to change it in the UK before swapping it for a Slovene licence?

As long as it remains valid, UK-issued driving licences will continue to be valid, including those with EU images. You should exchange your UK driving license for a Slovene one if you meet the residency criteria. Residents will be required to do so within 12 months of Brexit. More information can be found on our Living in Slovenia guide (www.gov.uk/living-in-slovenia).

Wills

We have a holiday home in Slovenia. Am I correct in thinking that we need to get our UK will translated into Slovene and a copy deposited with a notary in Slovenia in order for our wishes to be upheld rather than defaulting to Slovene law regarding wills?

You are correct - you do need to translate your will into Slovene and deposit this with a solicitor.

Child benefit

We get child benefit for our two grandchildren who we are raising under a UK special guardianship order. Will this benefit be effected?

Should the UK depart the EU with the Withdrawal Agreement (Deal) your rights as UK nationals in the EU will continue as before and you will have full access to the rights you currently enjoy (e.g. child benefit) for as long as you remain a resident in Slovenia. If the UK departs the EU without a deal then the Slovene government has put in place legislation to protect the rights of UK residents until the end of 2020 when they expect an EU wide agreement to be reached.

If you are a permanent resident your access to Slovene social security benefit should continue as before and you will automatically continue to qualify for child benefit from the Slovene authorities. If you are a temporary resident you will be entitled to the same benefits until expiry of your permit when you will need to either roll over to permanent residence or apply for a temporary residence as a third-country national.

Our current understanding is that the payment mechanism between the UK and Slovenia will remain in place for payment of UK child benefits in all scenarios and are confirming this with our UK tax advisers. We will get back to you as soon as we have confirmation.

The Embassy

Since Brexit, deal or no deal, will be a complex, multi-year process, is the Embassy planning on employing someone to deal full time with the related issues, as well as those that arise if/when the UK finally becomes a third country?

As you may know HMG has allocated a significant number of additional staff to work on the wide variety of Brexit-related issues - both in London and overseas. That includes a number of full-time staff at the Embassy in Ljubljana, as well as additional staff in London and Europe who directly support our work and UK nationals living here.

More questions?

If you have specific questions that are not covered by the Living in Slovenia guide you can contact us via our contact form (www.gov.uk/contact-consulate-ljubljana) or by telephone (01) 200 39 10.

October 9, 2019 - How to travel between the Slovenian and Croatian capitals? All you ever needed to know about travelling from Ljubljana to Zagreb and vice versa. 

Both the Slovenian and Croatian capitals are growing in popularity, and the good news is that there are many options to get from one to the other. An overview of options:

Ljubljana to Zagreb by car

Many people travel between the two capitals by car, and the direct motorway route is simple enough, a distance of about 140 km. The border crossing is at Bregana. Actual driving time is about 1 hour 45, but you advised to allow extra time for the border crossing, especially in season. There are webcams at many border crossings (see below) so you can see what awaits. Be aware that if you travel on a Slovenian motorway, you MUST purchase a vignette, available from petrol stations and locations. The minimum cost is 15 euro for a 7-day vignette. And if you think that is expensive, try not buying one and you will find fines in the region of 300 euro. There is also a small toll to pay on the Croatian motorways (under 2 euro). It should be noted that Croatia is not yet in the Euro zone, and Croatian kuna is the local currency, although you can pay by card or in euro at the toll. 

And if you do buy the vignette, you might want to check out one of my favourite niche articles, which has proved surprisingly popular - How to Remove a Slovenian Vignette from Your Windscreen. 

You can track the latest traffic and border news in English here. 

With or without a vignette?

But if you want to save those precious 15 euro, you can... 

Here’s a story about driving in Slovenia without a vignette. You can use Google Maps (route options) to choose a route without highways and tolls (but note catching tourists without a vignette who take a wrong turn is a sport for police near the border).

Learn more in How to Drive Across Slovenia Without Buying a Vignette.

Car rental options 

There are many international car rental companies, as you would expect. As both countries are now in the EU, there are no particular complications, and one-way drive is a common practice. 

Slovenia, Croatia and Schengen

While both Slovenia and Croatia are in the EU and so there are no customs issue, they are separated by a manned border, at least for now. This is because Croatia is not yet in the Schengen zone (at time of writing - end of 2019), although its entry is getting closer. The latest estimates put entry date at 2021. 

While the Schengen border is a pain for now and brings additional travel time, it is also an important way of life for many non-EU travellers who are on a 90-day Schengen visa. Lots of them come to Croatia and stay until they can go back, and there are frequent forum posts asking whether or not the passport gets stamped at the Croatian - Slovenian border. The answer is almost always at the main crossings, such as Bregana, not always at smaller crossings (unless you request it).

Crossing the border between Croatia and Slovenia - what you need to know

With no customs checks, the process of changing countries should be fairly quick, but the external Schengen border slows things down (this border should disappear once Croatia joins the zone). But expect delays in season, for this is a VERY popular route to the Adriatic coast, and you can find yourself stuck for an hour or two in queues if you don't plan ahead. 

In order to make things easier if you want to plan ahead, we have prepared a map of all the border crossings, details of webcams and lots of insider tips in our special guide to crossing the border from Slovenia to Croatia. 

Ljubljana to Zagreb private transfer

Nothing quite beats the experience of having someone else worry about all the driving while you relax and enjoy the view, and if you are looking for a private transfer, look no further than Octopus Transfers, whose rapidly expanding regional network is known for its great service, modern fleet and professionalism. 

Ljubljana to Zagreb by train

There are four direct trains a day, five in the summer and winter seasons. It takes a little under 2.5 hours. The timetable is here. 

Bus travel between Ljubljana and Zagreb

There are almost 30 buses, including night buses, all of which go from the bus terminal in front of the train station. The prices are around 10 euros, and they run from 03:45 to 23:45 (LJ to ZG). Travel time is from 1.5 hours to 3hr 15min, with the average being 2.5 hrs. The website has a warning on delays at the border.

Timetable from Ljubljana to Zagreb is here. 

Timetable from Zagreb to Ljubljana is here. 

Flights from Ljubljana to Zagreb

 There are no flights between the two cities - the distance is too short.

How to get from Ljubljana Airport to Ljubljana for onward travel to Zagreb 

Many tourists use Ljubljana Airport as an access point to Zagreb, and the quickest and easiest way from the Slovenian airport to the Croatian capital is by private transfer. 

For those on a budget, however, a trip into Ljubljana is required. Here is all you need to know about getting into town. 

From Zagreb Airport to Zagreb for onward travel to Ljubljana

Similarly, from Zagreb Airport, our Total Croatia Zagreb Airport guide can help you into town and then onwards to Ljubljana. 

And now that you have arrived at your destination, what to do next?

Here are 25 things to know about Ljubljana. 

And the Total Croatia Zagreb in a Page guide. 

Forbes is the latest publication to turn it’s attention to Slovenia as a tourist destination, with a short article from Amber Gibson, an international travel writer rather than a local specialist.

Titled “Five Reasons to Visit Slovenia”, it’s the kind of thing that anyone who knows the country will try and write in their head before reading. Bled, surely, will make the list, and likely Ana Ros and Hiša Franko. Ljubljana too, of course, but what will be highlighted in the city, and will there be anything that falls under the category of hidden gem? (A term that, we’re glad to report, isn’t used once in the story.)

Gibson’s guide in the county was Vesna Jona, who notes that Slovenia is less Balkan than the other ex-Yugoslavian states, saying “We work hard like Germans, but we like to eat and drink like Italians”.

We’ll leave you to click through and see the full details of the tourist offer that’s being presented to Forbes’ readers, under the headings of Outdoor Adventure, Castles, Caves, Fine Dining, and Food & Wine, but see if you can guess what you’ll find there.

STA, 9 October 2019 - Prime Minister Marjan Šarec and his Belgian counterpart Charles Michel, the next president of the European Council, expressed optimism on Wednesday over the Brexit situation as Michel visited Slovenia. The pair believes the UK and the EU could reach an agreement.

Šarec also said that he was convinced Michel as the new president of the EU Council would respect the rule of law including in Schengen zone enlargement.

Michel, Belgium's caretaker prime minister who will take over at the helm of the EU Council in December, hopes London and Brussels could reach a Brexit deal, highlighting that both sides would need to show willingness for finding a solution in the coming weeks.

"I'd like to send an optimistic and positive message," said Michel at the press conference after the talks. "Willingness is not a guarantee for success; it's not a guarantee that a solution will be possible. However, without willingness there will be no solution in any case."

The Slovenian prime minister was likewise optimistic about the UK and EU reaching an agreement, adding "the matter has been dragging on for too long and is standing in the way of tackling important issues ahead of us".

"Naturally, we would all be most pleased if we could forget about this sad chapter of EU history and find another solution," said Šarec.

But in politics one needs to be a realist and Slovenia has always pursued this path, added the Slovenian prime minister.

"Slovenia is always aspiring to the rule of law; a manner which has been slightly stunted recently when some political connections have rather taken centre stage. I believe that the new European Commission will act differently," said Šarec.

"I know Michel is a politician who respects the rule of law and advocates EU values, and I'm convinced he will remain such as the president of the EU Council," responded Šarec when asked about his expectations regarding the new president's attitude towards the Slovenian-Croatian border arbitration dispute.

"However, every member state has a duty to consider whether this EU community should be based on the rule of law or on the principle of everybody trying to gain the most for oneself regardless of law or the rights of others. I believe we will definitely cooperate on this grounds in the future," Šarec said.

The pair also discussed the EU's multi-annual financial framework for the 2021-2027 period.

Šarec presented in more detail to Michel Slovenia's key views and expectations regarding the budget negotiations, which are expects to be wrapped up under the new EU Council presidency.

The Slovenian prime minister called for a swift agreement and said that Slovenia wanted a balanced financial framework which would properly tackle current EU challenges and would not lead to a further reduction of cohesion and rural development funds.

Meanwhile, Michel said that it was important to him as well to be aware of Slovenia's priorities in the negotiations.

The pair also discussed the situation in the Western Balkans - Šarec again highlighted the importance of an EU future for the region and said he expected that North Macedonia and Albania would get a go-ahead for the start of EU accession talks at a summit next week.

Michel's visit to Slovenia is part of his preparations for assuming his new EU top job. He said that the visit was very important since he wanted to lend an ear to Slovenia and find out about the country's concerns regarding current issues.

The next EU Council president highlighted that doing so he could then make more informed decisions "to lead the EU in the right direction and to be closer to citizens of Slovenia and other EU countries".

STA, 9 October 2019 - After issuing a set of recommendations last November to warn against imprudent consumer lending practices, Banka Slovenije moved from recommendations to formal restrictions on Wednesday while also further stiffening conditions. "This is also to let the public know where the limits of healthy borrowing lie," Deputy Governor Primož Dolenc said.

The restrictions, which will become effective in November, include maximum 84-month maturity for consumer loans, down from 120 months recommended last year.

Banks will moreover for the most part have to keep loan-to-value ratios (loan payments relative to the client's annual income) to below 50% for clients with monthly income of up to twice the gross minimum wage and below 67% for those making more than that.

What is more, the borrower will have to be left with at least 76% of the gross minimum wage after paying the monthly instalment or more if they have a dependant family member, the head of the central bank's department for financial stability and macro-prudential policy, Tomaž Košak, told the press.

The same loan-to-value ratios will also become obligatory for housing loans. Remaining only a recommendation to banks is that the ratio between the value of a loan and the value of the housing assets used to insure it should not exceed 80%.

Notably, certain derogations will also apply. Up to 15% of the newly granted consumer loans will be allowed to have a maturity of up to 120 months, and up to 10% of consumer as well as housing loans will not be constricted by the loan-to-value ratio pertaining to annual income.

Explaining the decision, Dolenc said the central bank had established that the risks related to these loans were not decreasing despite the recommendations issued last November.

"The annual growth rates remain high, in double-digit territory," Dolenc said, while Košak noted that the average value of a consumer loan increased by EUR 2,000 and stands at EUR 8,000.

The decision to move from recommendations to binding restrictions came as Banka Slovenije discovered that almost a quarter of the total value of loans approved digressed from the recommendations.

Dolenc said credit growth in Slovenia was comparable to the average in the eurozone, but he warned that it was distributed unequally among the segments.

It has stabilised at 5% for housing loans in recent years, which the deputy governor labelled sustainable and appropriate, growth in loans to companies remains under 5%, meaning low but stable, while it stood at a very high 11.7% in August year-on-year for consumer loans to amount to EUR 2.9 billion.

Dolenc said the goal is to keep the growth of these loans on a par with trends in other areas. GDP growth is at roughly 3%, unemployment is at a historic low with a negative turn expected sooner or later, while double-digit growth is recorded for consumer loans along with the trend of ever longer maturity. "The problem is not people's debt levels, but the trend in this field," he added.

The measures will negatively affect the profitability of banks in the short-term, but the central bank expects the long-term effect to be positive for banks as well.

Meanwhile, the measures were rejected today the Slovenian Bank Association as too restrictive, arguing they "could hurt the socially most vulnerable segments of the population and cause major economic damage".

The association claims the new measures will encourage these segments to seek loans outside of the regulated banking system and face unfavourable credit conditions along with problematic loan recovery methods.

It highlighted the regular loan repayment habits of people in Slovenia, who are moreover among the least indebted in Europe while also having a lot of savings.

Also, comparable restrictive measures have only been adopted by three EU member states, the association said in a press release.

It called for a structured, professional and broad debate on the actual effects of the announced measures on individual segments of the population and on the economy, stressing economic growth was increasing based on private consumption, so the measures could have an extremely pro-cyclical effect.

I attended the second edition of the Slovene Cheese Festival 2019 last Tuesday, 1 October, at the Brdo Congress Centre in Kranj. Naturally, I was rather cheese pleased, having had a total of 84 different cheeses laid out before my eyes. For the sake of my belly's contentment, I had to make an effort to not try all that was in sight, as cheese overload is a hard one to digest.

So I went about selecting the most eye-catching and curious cheeses from among 33 enticing cheese displays (each cheesemaker could exhibit as many as three cheeses). The 33 cheesemakers present at the festival consisted mainly of boutique dairies, except for Slovenia's three large producers: Pomurske Mlekarne, Mlekarna Planina, and Mlekarna Celeia.

No Silage

A lot of the boutique cheesemakers that I spoke to emphasised that they don't feed silage to their animals. Silage is a type of fodder produced from green foliage crops that have been preserved by acidification, which is achieved through fermentation. The milk or cheese produced by animals fed on silage is known to have a different taste that is not as pleasant as that produced from animals that feed on pasture.

Many boutique cheemakers in Slovenia are proud to say that their animals feed on pasture rather than silage (Photo: Denise Rejec)

Special Cheeses

I tasted a variety of cheeses ranging from fresh to aged, and soft to hard cheeses, some with mould, and others seasoned. Here are some cheeses that really stood out:

• Ekološka Kmetija Planko & Kleh’s fresh goat cheese
• Sirarstvo Orešnik’s eco-ripened soft goat cheese with thyme, and goat and sheep cheese with blue mould which they've named Patricija
• Pustotnik’s Sir Kozovč—a semi-hard cheese made from a mixture of goat and sheep milk
• Kmetija Žerjal's Tropinc—a hard goat cheese immersed in a container filled with Teran grape skins and left there to acquire their aroma and flavour, which is then removed and then aged for one year. I also liked this cheesemaker's Gmajnar—a goat cheese with Karst herbs, and Brin—goat cheese infused with juniper.

Kmetija Žerjal's Tropinc has a Teran grape aroma and flavour

Cheesey Bites

Chef Jože Godec of Resje restaurant in Bohinj delighted festival-goers with seven different cheese-based finger foods. These included baked potato with the very particular cheese from Bohinj known as Mohant, cheese burgers, ravioli stuffed with skuta, and buckwheat pancake with goat cheese mousse and buckwheat popcorn.

Buckwheat pancake with goat cheese mousse and buckwheat popcorn prepared by Jože Godec of Resje restaurant (Photo: Denise Rejec)

Choco-cheese Bomb

Here's something that I'd never tried before: a cheese and chocolate combo. Kmetija Podpečan had trayfulls of chocolate-covered cheese cubes, some with chilli on top, others with seeds. These proved to be a hit with chocolate and cheese lovers, but I still think I prefer to eat the two separately. In my opinion, chocolate is too good to eat with cheese, and vice versa.

One Success after Another

Last year's Slovene Cheese Festival was the very first of its kind in Slovenia. The Association of Rural Cheesemakers of Slovenia (ZKSS) organised the event to commemorate the 20th anniversary since its inception. Originally, the ZKSS thought up the festival as a one-time event to celebrate the occasion. However, due to last year's success, the association has established it as a yearly event.

Sirarstvo Orešnik’s eco-ripened soft goat cheese with thyme, and goat and sheep cheese with blue mould (Photo: Denise Rejec)

Strength in Numbers

Some 20 years ago, a group of farmers and dairy producers decided to join forces and form the cheese association (ZKSS). Slovenia back then didn't have the small private cheesemaking dairies that it has today, having only major corporations doing mass production. So cheesemakers felt that they had to come together as an association to develop the cheese aspect of Slovenia's gastronomy.

Since its inception, the association has been based at KGZS – Ptuj Institute. Its 118 members are from all over Slovenia and are active in the field of education, promotion of cheesemaking on farms, and raising the quality of products. The association is an active member of the Farmhouse and Artisan Cheese and Dairy Producer’s European Network (FACE).

Irena Orešnik (member of the FACE management board) and her husband Dejan of Sirarstvo Orešnik (Photo: Denise Rejec)

Mark Your Diary

The Slovene Cheese Festival is taking place on the same day, every year. So all you cheese lovers out there, be sure to mark October 1, 2020, in your diaries. At the third edition, you will definitely come across a few cheeses that you've never had the opportunity to taste. Till then, all we can say is “More cheese, please!”

You can find a more in-depth feature about the Slovene Cheese Festival 2019 on Wine Dine Slovenia.

The two Slovene Rural Cheesemakers Association mascots: “See you next year!” (Photo: Denise Rejec)

STA, 8 October 2019 - Fortenova, the successor of the bankrupt Croatian food conglomerate Agrokor, is devising a secret plan to slash up the Slovenian retail group Mercator into parts and take control of the cash flows between the core company and its subsidiaries in Croatia, Serbia and Bosnia, the news web portal Siol reports.

Siol says that several sources have confirmed the plan is in the making, while Fortenova would not respond to the portal's questions. Fortenova would not need the consent of Mercator's creditors for the plan because their loans pertain to the core company in Ljubljana.

In its response for Siol, Mercator merely noted its role as the largest grocer in Slovenia and in the region and as such a platform for the long-term development of regional suppliers. "A successful financial and operational renewal of Mercator is what we believe the new owner will appreciate in all future decisions," the company is quoted as saying.

Siol says that Mercator's division into parts by countries would mean its irreversible folding into the concern Fortenova, which would assume control over Mercator Group's cash flows. The move would also undermine the position of Slovenian suppliers.

According to Siol, Mercator representatives have not been involved in the making of the plan, the ground for which started being prepared in the autumn when a taskforce started looking for synergies between the companies of former Agrokor.

The plan was given a new impetuous when the ownership of Fortenova passed into the hands of international banks and financial funds. Its biggest owner is the Russian state-owned bank Sberbank, whose sole interest is that it gets repaid a EUR 1.1 billion loan.

The debt's repayment depends on the financial sustainability of Fortenova, which in turn depends on Mercator. Without Mercator's cash flow, the financial architecture of Fortenova would collapse, and so would the Russian bankers' calculations, Siol writes.

Mercator remains in Agrokor's ownership as all creditor banks as well as the regulator need to give their go ahead for the retailer's transfer to Fortenova. The banks NLB and Abanka are said to have given their consent, while Siol's information indicates that the state-owned SID Banka and Bank Asset Management Company are not planning to give theirs for the time being.

Fortenova notified the European Commission of its Mercator concentration plan for Slovenia and Croatia in August. While the Slovenian competition watchdog has decided not to re-examine broader implications of the concentration, the Serbian market regulator did opt to do so at the end of last week.

STA, 8 October 2019 - The Month of Design (Mesec Oblikovanja) event, bringing together around 300 participants from 19 countries in Southeast Europe, got under way in Ljubljana on Tuesday with the Design Expo fair and presentation of a number of awards.

Organised by the Zavod Big centre for creative business, the 17th Month of Design will bring together lecturers and debaters at a number of events on architecture, wood design and creative tourism, among others.

Also to be conferred are awards for product design and fashion, interior design, innovative carpentry and creative tourism, according to the festival's website.

The main event of the festival will be the international exhibition BigSEE, which will feature award-winning projects in four categories in national pavilions set up in Design City in Dunajska Street.

A special Big SEE Visionary Award will go to four "visionaries who have inspired and moved the boundaries of design and architecture with their oeuvre, developing the creative environment of Southeast Europe."

Several awards were already conferred today, including the Design of the Year award, which want to Gigodesign for Bokashi Organko 2, a minimalist kitchen compost bin made from recycled materials, the jury wrote.

Moreover, the Private Interior award went to Dan Adlešič, Gregor Bucika and co. for the Ansambel flat, which counters the trend of hyperaesthetic flat designs by using a more personal touch, and the Public Interior award to Nuša Jelenec for the pizzeria Trappa project that experiments with new spacial relations, materials, textures and colours.

Also conferred was the Timeless award, going to glass designer Tihomir Tomić for a glass coffee cup which he designed in 1980 and which was produced in a limited edition by the Steklarna Boris Kidrič glassworks in v Rogaška Slatina.

The jury wrote that the relatively long glass-working tradition in Slovenia had attracted various artists who primarily worked in other fields. Tomić, a graphic designer by training, worked at Steklarna Boris Kidrič and created a number of daily use products, decorative items and glass sculptures, many of which unfortunately remained limited to a test edition.

The coffee cup, made from hand-blown glass in a translucent and etched version combines pure form and experiment - etching with acid - along with an excellent and precise execution. Simple, essential, timeless, the jury wrote.

Design City also hosted today a design conference featuring presentations of award-winning projects and of successful companies promoting progress empowered by design.

The Month of Design will run until 8 November, featuring another 60 partner events all around the Slovenian capital.

Check the date at the top of the page, and you can find all the "morning headlines" stories here. You can also follow us on Facebook and get all the news in your feed.

A schedule of all the main events involving Slovenia this week can be found here

This summary is provided by the STA:

Slovenia warned it remains slow on the uptake of EU funds

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Slovenia has earned a new reproof for the slow uptake of EU funds as the country's member of the European Court of Auditors reported that by the end of 2018 the country had only used 24.2% of the funding available for the period between 2014 and 2020. Presenting the annual report for 2018 in Brussels, Samo Jereb said that the uptake rate was rather low the fifth year into the current financial framework, in particular compared to the fifth year of the previous framework when the rate was 37%. The Government Development and Cohesion Policy Office said that Jereb had included only the final phase of EU funds uptake. The figure leaves out the first two phases, and Slovenia is well on its way to draw the entirety of the funds available to it, it added.

Social dialogue re-established after PM meets employers, unionists

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's main industrial relations forum will be back in session next week, after Prime Minister Marjan Šarec met with employers and trade unions, nearly two weeks after they suspended social dialogue, protesting that bills were being filed into parliamentary procedure without having been discussed by the forum. It was agreed at the meeting with Šarec that the rules and procedure of the Economic and Social Council (ESS) will be changed so as to be able to debate bills sent to parliament by the opposition.

Official figures put Adria's annual net loss at almost EUR 19m

LJUBLJANA - Adria Airways, a German-owned Slovenian airline in receivership since last week, ended 2018 with a net loss of EUR 18.6 million, up from EUR 5.4 million in 2017, shows the audited financial statement, which was released today. The air carrier's operating loss amounted to over EUR 16 million, up from EUR 3.3 million in 2017, with its negative working capital standing at EUR 14.2 million.

Committee throws out bill on Swiss francs loan conversion

LJUBLJANA - The parliamentary Finance Committee rejected a bill converting Swiss franc loans taken out between 2004 and 2010 to euro loans, which was drafted by the upper chamber of parliament. The bill creates more issues than it resolves, many committee members believe. The bill was drafted as an attempt to help several thousand people who took out mortgages in Swiss francs and ran into trouble when the Swiss central bank stopped protecting the value of the currency in 2015. Although the rejection came as no surprise, with the bill having been rejected by the Finance Ministry, the central bank and the Bank Association, most MPs shared the view that something needs to be done.

Alfi reportedly set to buy more Tuš claims

LJUBLJANA - The financial fund Alfi, the biggest creditor of the Tuš group with about a third of the claims, is reportedly in talks for acquiring about 27% more of the claims to the struggling group. According to today's report by Dnevnik, Alfi, which was reported buying Tuš claims from the NLB bank last December to thus hold claims nominally worth over EUR 90m, is unofficially in talks with SID Banka and BKS bank, both of which hold 8% of the claims, and Gorenjska Banka, which owns 11%.

Slovenian BSH subsidiary building new development centre

NAZARJE - BSH Hišni Aparati, the Slovenian subsidiary of the Bosch and Siemens Home Appliance Group, has started building a new development centre as part of its production complex in Nazarje. The EUR 3 million investment is expected to be completed by December 2020 and enable the company to further improve its products. The centre of the Slovenian part of one of the largest household appliances groups in the world will be one of the most up-to-date development centres in the Bosch and Siemens Home Appliance Group.

Siol reports plan in making to slash up Mercator

LJUBLJANA - Fortenova, the successor of the bankrupt Croatian food conglomerate, is devising a secret plan to slash up the Slovenian retail group Mercator into parts and take control of the cash flows between the core company and its subsidiaries in Croatia, Serbia and Bosnia, the news web portal Siol reported. Siol said that several sources had confirmed the plan is in the making, while Fortenova would not respond to the portal's questions. Fortenova would not need the consent of Mercator's creditors for the plan because their loans pertain to the core company in Ljubljana.

Local consortium wins deal to build Maribor-Šentilj rail

LJUBLJANA - A consortium of Slovenian construction companies has been chosen to build a new section of the rail line between Maribor and the Šentilj border crossing with Austria, a project valued at EUR 101 million. In a decision that the Infrastructure Agency told the STA had become final at the end of last week, the contract was awarded to the consortium of companies Pomgrad, Kolektor, SŽ-ŽGP, GH-Holding and Gorenjska Gradbena Družba.

Co-incineration serious option for coal-fired TEŠ power station

LJUBLJANA - TEŠ, a coal-fired power station from Šoštanj, is looking for a contractor to produce all the necessary paperwork and environmental impact reports as it branches out into co-incineration of non-hazardous waste. Faced with a shortage of coal from the local mine in Velenje, TEŠ has examined several scenarios, also importing coal, which would however be the least viable option. Due to growing coal prices, the state-owned company intends to start phasing in co-incineration at the end of 2020.

ITF helps establish rehab centre for war victims in Bethlehem

BETLEHEM, Israel - A rehabilitation centre for victims of armed conflicts in the West Bank and Gaza Strip in Palestine was opened in Bethlehem with assistance from the Slovenian-run ITF Enhancing Human Security organisation. The centre, whose establishment has been managed by the fund mostly dealing with demining and assistance to victims of land mines, will provide rehabilitation to victims of armed conflicts in Palestine in a familiar environment.

Month of Design starts in Ljubljana

LJUBLJANA - The Month of Design event, bringing together around 300 participants from 19 countries in Southeast Europe, got under way in Ljubljana today with the Design Expo fair. Several awards were conferred today, including the Design of the Year award, which want to Gigodesign for Bokashi Organko 2, a minimalist kitchen compost bin made from recycled materials, the jury wrote. Organised by the Zavod Big centre for creative business, the 17th Month of Design will bring together lecturers and debaters at a number of events on architecture, wood design and creative tourism, among others.

Visiting Ljubljana? Check out what's on this week, while all our stories on Slovenia, from newest to oldest, are here

If you're learning Slovenian then you can find all our dual texts here