The labour market is inflexible, and legacy industries are losing sales to more competitive firms in China, India and elsewhere. Despite its economic success, foreign direct investment (FDI) in Slovenia has lagged behind the regional average, and taxes remain relatively high. Slovenia became the first transition country to graduate from borrower status to donor partner at the World Bank in March 2004 and became an OECD member in 2012. Structural reforms to improve the business environment under the guidance of the European Union have allowed for greater foreign participation in Slovenia's economy and helped to reduce unemployment.

Slovenia has excellent infrastructure, a well-educated workforce, and a strategic location between Central and Southeastern Europe. Slovenia became the first 2004 European Union entrant to adopt the Euro single currency on 1 January 2007 and has experienced one of the most stable economic transitions in Central and Southern Europe.

Slovenia acceded to both NATO and the EU in 2004, and joined the Eurozone and the Schengen Area in 2007, completing their final steps of accession to the European Union. Dissatisfied with the exercise of power by the majority Serbs, Slovenes succeeded in establishing their independence in 1991 after a short ten-day war. After Yugoslavia was occupied by the Axis Powers and later liberated by the Partisans with the help of Western Allies in World War II, Slovenia became a socialist republic in the renewed Yugoslavia, which although Communist, distanced itself from direct Moscow rule. The Slovene lands were part of the Holy Roman Empire, and later they were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until its dissolution following the end of World War I in November 1918 - when the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes was formed on the 1st of December that same year, and turned into a multinational state named Yugoslavia on October 3, 1929. Slovenia did not exist as a nation until 1991. It has a Mediterranean climate on the coast, continental climate with mild to hot summers, and cold winters in the plateaus and valleys to the east. Slovenia's main industries include car parts, pharmacy, electronics, electrical appliances, metal goods, textiles and furniture. Historical ties to Western Europe, and help from the European Union have assisted in Slovenia's transformation to a modern state. Previously one of Yugoslavia's six constituent republics, present-day Slovenia seceded in 1991. Despite its small size, this Alpine country controls some of Europe's major transit routes. The country lies in South Central Europe in the Julian Alps at the northern end of the Adriatic Sea, bordered by Austria to the north, Italy to the west, Hungary to the northeast, and Croatia to the south/southeast.

Slovenia ( Slovenija) is a small country in Central Europe - a member of the European Union, Schengen Agreement and NATO.

Time in slavania