In a referendum yesterday (6 June), Slovenia agreed to call upon a court of arbitration to resolve the open border issues with Croatia. This plan had been adopted by the Slovene and Croatian Governments through mediation by the European Union.

Federal Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle issued the following statement in Berlin today (7 June) on the outcome of the referendum:

“The decision by the Slovene people to call upon a court of arbitration deserves our respect. This kind of conflict resolution in the spirit of good neighbourliness is exemplary and bears witness to a modern European spirit. At the same time it is a signal to the entire region to resolve bilateral disputes in a spirit of partnership and in a way that bolsters regional stability and the process of all Western Balkan states gradually drawing closer to the European Union.”

It is expected that this decision will inject positive momentum into negotiations on Croatia’s accession to the European Union.

Read more on Germany's bilateral relations to Slovenia: