Political relations
Current bilateral relations are characterized by dynamic political dialogue and successful economic and trade cooperation. The corona crisis affected the reduction of the intensity of mutual visits by the officials of the two countries during 2020, while during 2021, a return to the previous situation can be noted. The achieved level of relations is confirmed by the fact that five joint sessions of the two governments have been held so far. Both sides estimate that bilateral relations have reached the highest level since 1991.
An intense political dialogue between the representatives of our countries at all levels is confirmed by the large number of meetings in the previous period. In 2022, the President of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić had a meeting with President of the Republic of Slovenia, during his working visit to the Republic of Slovenia on April 4th, 2022.
H.E. Mr Aleksandar Vučić also prticipated on the Brdo-Brioni summit on September 12, 2022 at Brdo pri Kranju, EU-Western Balkans Summit in Brdo pri Kranju in October 2021 Brdo pri Kranju, 5-6. October, 2021, “Brdo Brioni Samit” on May 17th, 2021 and in the Bled Strategic Forum on 2nd September, 2021. During 2019, the former President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia Maja Gojković paid an official visit to the Republic of Slovenia and Serbia was visited by the President of the Republic of Slovenia Borut Pahor the former PM of the Republic of Slovenia Marjan Šarec. The Minister of Foreign Affairs N. Selaković paid an official visit to R. Slovenia on 24 – 26. May 2021.
President of the R. Slovenia B. Pahor visited Serbia on 3.9.2022. during the regional tour for the preparation of the "Brdo-Brioni" Summit. He visited Serbia on 28 November 2021. when he met President of the R. Serbia A. Vučić, and visited R. Serbia 13-14. May 2021. during the regional tour for the preparation of the "Brdo-Brioni" Summit.
Economic relations
There is a permanent growth trend for trade between Serbia and Slovenia. In the period January-May 2022, exports of goods to Slovenia amounted to 326.4 million euros, and imports of goods from Slovenia amounted to 375.3 million euros. In the period January-Jun 2022, exports of goods to Slovenia amounted to 446.6 million euros, and imports of goods from Slovenia amounted to 531,9 million euros. In 2021 exports of goods to Slovenia amounted to 684.8 million euros, while total imports were 719.2 million euros.
More than 4,400 companies from Serbia and Slovenia in 2019 were active in both markets, not only through trade but also through investment. Slovenia is one of the largest investors, and over 1,200 Slovenian companies with majority Slovenian capital, which employ about 25,000 workers, operate successfully in Serbia. According to Slovenian statistics, Serbia ranks first in the value of Slovenian investments abroad. The value of Slovenian investments in Serbia, including the NLB's investment in Komercijalna Banka, is over 1.6 billion euros. The largest Slovenian investments, among others, are the Post of Slovenia in the logistics company Interevropa (100 million euros), Don Don, which has been operating since 2008 and is the largest is the bakery company, Gorenje, Impol, Triglav osiguranje, Mercator, Merkur, etc.
Serbian investor Comtrade took over Slovenian Hermes Softlab in 2008 and employs 600 IT experts at three locations in Slovenia. The trend of increasing Serbian investments in the Republic of Slovenia has been prominent especially in the field of tourism. Portorož, the airport in Portorož, as well as the majority package of shares of Gorenjska banka, and Delta holding has invested in the construction of the hotel "Intercontinental" in Ljubljana and plans to build the hotel Holiday Inn whose construction is expected to begin soon.
Bilateral agreements
There are currently 49 agreements/protocols and MoUs in force.
- Agreement on Trade and Economic Cooperation between the Federal Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Government of the Republic of Slovenia, signed on 23 March 23 2001.
- Agreement between the Council of Ministers of Serbia and Montenegro and the Government of the Republic of Slovenia on the Avoidance of Double Taxation in Relation to Taxes on Income and Property, signed on 11 June 2003.
- Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Government of the Republic of Slovenia on Police Cooperation, signed on 14 November 2012.
- Protocol between the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia and the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports of the Republic of Slovenia on Cooperation in the Field of Education, signed on 2 October 2013.
- Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Government of the Republic of Slovenia on Employment of Citizens of the Republic of Serbia in the Republic of Slovenia, signed on 1 February 2018.
Contact information
Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Ljubljana: http://ljubljana.mfa.gov.rs/lat/
Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Belgrade: http://www.beograd.veleposlanistvo.si/index.php?id=20&L=9
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia
Department for Neighbouring Countries and SEE: tel. 00 381 (0) 11 30 68 289, e-mail: osz@mfa.rs