Slovenia Contact

Slovenia is located in Central Europe. It shares borders with Austria, Croatia, Italy and Hungary. It has an area of 20,273 square kilometres. Its capital city is Ljubljana.

Slovenia had a population of 2,003,584 in July 2004 with an estimated growth rate of -0.01%. Slovenian is the national language. There is a small Serb - Croatian-speaking minority. The main religion is Roman Catholic.

Slovenia’s climate varies from mediterranean on the coast to continental with mild to hot summers and cold winters in the plateaus and valleys to the east. The terrain consists of a short coastal strip on the Adriatic, an alpine mountain region neighbouring Italy and Austria and mixed mountains and valleys with numerous rivers to the east. The main natural resources are lignite coal, lead, zinc, mercury, uranium, silver, hydropower and forests.

Slovenia gained independence from Yugoslavia in June 1991 and is now governed as a parliamentary democracy. The new constitution established in December 1990 guarantees government by the rule of law, respect for human and civil rights and the protection of minorities. The Slovene Parliament consists of two chambers: the National Assembly and the National Council.

Slovenia, with its historical ties to Western Europe, enjoys a GDP per capita substantially higher than that of the other transitioning economies of Central Europe. In March 2004, Slovenia became the first transition country to graduate from borrower status to donor partner at the World Bank. Structural reforms to improve the business environment allow for greater foreign participation in Slovenia's economy and help to lower unemployment. The currency of Slovenia is the tolar.

Franchising is growing in Slovenia. The Slovenian Franchise Association formed in June 1998 became full member of the European Franchise Federation in 2000.

There is no specific franchise law in Slovenia.