Slovenia

Home: Stable domestic politics dominated by a centre-right party have provided the perfect environment for steady economic progress. Prime minister Anton Rop rules the roost at home and is a clean-cut, effective leader of the country squashed underneath Austria. Slovenia was always the front-runner and frequently given the ‘best-prepared’ badge by Brussels, but Ljubljana has nevertheless remained slightly more aloof than its more northern Slavic brothers. Being the only former Yugoslav state to be entering the EU, it had a bloodless sprint to independence – gold dust in the Balkan context.

Away: Slovenia really is the EU good boy. Best in the class, Slovenia is a model for the other accession states, often even outperforming current EU states in economic and political terms. It is unlikely to cause Brussels any trouble and will be a welcome addition in that historically problematic corner of Europe. Brussels will be looking towards it for help as the Balkans line up for EU entry with Croatia the first on the list. 

What you never knew: Slovenia boasts a brace of slightly unhinged sportsmen. Davo Karnicar was the first person in the world to ski down Mt. Everest, and his countryman Martin Strel donned his Slavic Speedos and swam the entire length of the Mississippi - 3,800 kilometres in 68 days.

Population: 2 million 
Capital: Ljubljana
GDP: €8,200
Planned euro entry: 2007

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