Slovenia's Accession to the European Union: Domestic and Foreign Policy Consequences.

In terms of the general domestic environment it is interesting to note how Slovenia's population appears to feel about EU membership and its consequences. In the spring of 2003 nearly 90 percent of those participating in a national referendum indicated their approval of EU membership for Slovenia. The following spring, on the eve of Slovenia's accession, a Eurobarometer survey revealed a somewhat more mixed view of the E U. I On the one hand, the percentage of respondents stating that EU membership would be "a good thing" for Slovenia stood at 40, which was among the lowest of the ten new members and down 10 points from the previous year. On the other hand, the percentage indicating they expected Slovenia to benefit from EU membership (64), was the highest of the ten new members (but down eight points from 2003), as was support for the euro (82 percent). In addition, Slovenia scored among the highest of the ten new members in support for an EU Constitution (68 percent), a common foreign policy (76 percent), and a common defense and security policy (78 percent).