Disputes between Slovenia, Croatia over border

First European Commission Deputy Chairman Frans Timmermans is first representative The EC, which publicly presents the stance on the Arbitrazhi Court's decision regarding disputes between Croatia and Slovenia on the border line. “The EC at this moment accepts the final decision and expects the parties to implement that decision”, Timmermans said.

After meeting European commissionors in Strasbourg, he said the EC is always committed to peaceful resolutions of disputes among EU member states.

The EU has been mediating in the conflict between Croatia and Slovenia at the time the arbitration process began in 2009.

„We welcome the decision of prime ministers of Slovenia and Croatia to meet on July 12th. The European Commission hopes the prime ministers will agree to better and faster implementation of the court's” decision. In the EC, they say they will monitor the decision implementation process, DW reports.

European People's Party Chairman Manfred Weber says Slovenia and Croatia should continue dialogue and find the best way to resolve problems and implement the Court's decision. But he suggests that the EU not support either side.

The Decision Based on International Justice

Tanja Fajon tells Deutsche Welle that the decision on border dispute between Croatia and Slovenia has been taken on the foundations of international law and that it must be respected by the parties. Fajon claims that European institutions must pressure the parties to implement the decision. No national decision can be over international law. Slovenia and Croatia have agreed to implement these laws and decisions. Croatia's withdrawal from the process at the Arbitrazhi Court has not been accepted by international judges. They have made a final decision, and this is not about Croatia or Slovenia, but international law. In the future, Croatia will be at odds with the Arbitrazh Court, and not with Slovenia”, Fajon claims.

According to her, the Arbitrazhi Court is the right place for resolving all disputes over the borders of the Western Balkans unless these countries agree with bilateral agreements. The Balkans need a powerful instrument, to be respected by the parties. Otherwise, conflicts could erupt and stability be violated, says Tanja Fajon in conversation with DW.

Common Interests

While Dubravka Shujica from Croatia's European People's Party says the parties must resolve the problem with bilateral talks. “Croatia trusts international justice, but only when it is pure and in line with legal regulations. The European Commission has helped the arbitration process, but it has no competencies over this neither, it says.

Shujica claims that Slovenia and Croatia are neighbouring countries, members of the EU and NATO, which have many common themes. She thinks Croatia is open to resolving disputes. Croatia's primary goal is to maintain national interests, and it will always do so. But we also want to preserve good neighbourly reports with other countries. So we're interested in solving problems with bilate dialogue”, says Shujica, in conversation with DW.

Court of Arbitrazhi ruling

The Arbitrazhi Court in The Hague has decided that problems over the border between Slovenia and Croatia will be resolved according to cadastral books from the time of the former Yugoslavia. This also enables Slovenia to escape to the Adriatic Sea. Croatia has called for withdrawal from the process, due to some information, that the decision in Slovenia's favour was taken two years ago, while now it has revelations. The Croatian side thinks there have been abuses during this process, which the Slovenian side has dismissed.

The Arbitrazhi court has so far been mentioned often as an opportunity for resolving disputes in the demarcation of the border between Kosovo and Montenegro, but also Croatia and Serbia. (DW)