At NATO Prague Summit 2002, Slovenia was invited together with other six candidate countries for NATO membership - Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia - to join the Alliance. The Slovenians will decide on the membership on 23 March, when a vote on EU and NATO accession will take place. Slovenia is namely the only one of the seven invited candidate countries which will hold a referendum on NATO accession. In public opinion in 2002, the expectation was formed that citizens would decide on NATO entry in a referendum.
A decision by the National Assembly, which is composed of the people's elected representatives, would be sufficient for adopting the decision on Slovenia's entry into NATO. The Referendum and Public Initiative Act provides that for important decisions, the decision may be verified through a referendum as well.
On 30 January, by a vote 53 to 10 (with 64 members of the National Assembly present), the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia adopted a decision to call an advisory referendum on Slovenia's entry into the NATO Alliance. Before the calling of the advisory referendum on the EU, the National Assembly ought to have adopted an act binding itself to respect the outcome of the referendum.
On 7 March 2003 the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia adopted and promulgated a constitutional statute stipulating that the referenda will be binding, that upon the eventual ratification of international agreements on entry it will not be possible to call them again and that invalid ballots will have no effect on establishing the outcome, because these will not be counted as votes against. The constitutional statute makes it possible for Slovenia, through an international agreement ratified by the National Assembly with a two-thirds majority of all members of the National Assembly, to transfer the execution of a portion of its sovereign rights to international organisations that are based on respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, democracy and the principles of a state governed by the rule of law, and entry into a defensive alliance with states that are based on respect for these values.
Better prepared for NATO by Membership Action Plans
NATO claims that the applicants in the last round are better prepared for NATO membership as they have all undergone the preparations by membership action plans. Slovenia handed in the fourth annual Membership Action Plan (MAP) for the period between 2002 and 2003 on 18 September 2002. Plans for abolishing the compulsory military service and the gradual setting up of a professional military by 2010 were major novelties in the fourth annual MAP. Slovenia's transition from the invitation to NATO to being a full member is also considered by the action plan for the first time.
The document, that was sent to all 19 members and the NATO secretariat in Brussels, outlines the implementation of activities and the fulfilment of goals as set in the third MAP, as well as the main tasks in 2002 and 2003. Divided into five chapters, namely political and economic issues; defence and military issues; resources; security issues; and legal issues, the document places special emphasis on Slovenia's participation in the fight against terrorism and other current security challenges. Also highlighted is keeping the public informed about Slovenia's preparations for membership, the restructuring of defence forces, the decision to make a transition to professional armed forces by the end of 2010, and resources allocated for defence.
Visible Progress in Development of Armed Forces
This year's annual report of the Ministry of Defence indicates that considerable progress has been made in the development of the Slovenian Armed Forces. Reasons for the notable advances include the expectation that Slovenia will receive a membership invitation, and the fact that the entire defence system is currently subject to an extensive internal reform. This is manifested on the outside by the transition to professional forces with voluntary reserves, which is a marked difference compared to the current conscription army with mandatory reserve forces. According to current calculations, a professional Slovenian army would consist of three battalions with a total of 8,000 professional soldiers, plus a 10,000-strong voluntary reserve force.
Slovenians in Favour of NATO Membership
Back in 1997, when Slovenia expected to be invited to NATO at the Madrid summit, the support stood around 62 percent, according to the regular monthly survey Politbarometer. However, after Slovenia was not invited to join in 1997, the backing dropped to 55.4 percent.
In 2001, the support fluctuated between 50 and 55 percent, even dropping below the 50 percent mark a few times. In 2002, the backing for NATO accession fell further, only to reach its lowest point at 38.5 percent in September. On average, 42 percent of Slovenians supported the country's integration into the Alliance last year.
A considerable rise was noted after a membership invitation came from the NATO summit in November, pushing the support to around 50 percent in December. It however remained unsteady, as it fell to 44 percent a month later and continued the downward trend, standing at 37 percent in February.
Slovenian NATO opponents raised their voices more loudly in the second part of 2002, naming a number of reasons for voting against Slovenia's membership in the organisation. They have pointed to the U.S. domination in NATO and high defence costs, argued that Slovenia is not being threatened and that there is simply no need to enter NATO since Slovenia will be safe within the EU. They were also against Slovenia soldiers taking part in military operations abroad.
Financial Resources for NATO Membership
The costs of membership have been the concern most often voiced by those opposed to membership. The financial burdens within the Alliance are divided according to the share of the GDP allocated for defence.
In the first year of membership, i.e. in 2004, Slovenia will contribute EUR 1.6m to the NATO budget. These funds will go to three NATO budgets, namely the civil and the military budgets and the investment programs. It will account for 0.26 percent of the civil budget, 0.3 percent of the military budget and 0.26 percent of funds in investment programs. All three NATO budgets amount to around EUR 1.4 bn annually.
Slovenia Has Leading Role in Stabilisation of SE Europe
Many Slovenian soldiers and police officers (225) are taking part in peacekeeping missions; most of them in the South East Europe. The soldiers are highly appreciated in Bosnia-Herzegovina. They know the local language and customs and they are more successful than others in performing their mission. On another front, Slovenia has sent humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, and, just recently, enough arms and equipment for three battalions of Afghan land forces. Slovenia also has an officer in the U.S. central command (CENTCOM). He acts as coordinator and is briefed on the actions of the anti-terrorist coalition. In the first half of 2001, Slovenia also co-chaired the first working table of the SE Europe Stability Pact for democratisation and human rights. Moreover, it has been very successful in running the International Trust Fund for Demining and Mine Victims Assistance (ITF), one of the most successful demining organisations in the world. Slovenia has also played an active part in civil-military crisis management, and its armed forces have taken a leading role in protecting the environment. Within the Central European Nations' Co-operation in Peace Support (CENCOOP), Slovenia this year took on the presidency of the political and military steering committee. In addition, the setting up of joint multinational land forces with Italy and Hungary is a project that will become a crucial part of Slovenia's regional co-operation.
Government Public Relations and Media Office of the Republic of Slovenia, March 2003
For more information visit http://nato.gov.si/eng