Slovenia

A country with spectacular mountains, thick forests and a short Adriatic coastline, also enjoys substantial economic and political stability.

It was the only one of the former Yugoslav republics to be in the first wave of candidates for membership of the European Union. It joined in May 2004.

Just a couple of months before EU entry, became a member of Nato.

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Unlike Croatia or Bosnia-Hercegovina, 's independence from Yugoslavia was relatively bloodless.

The move was undoubtedly aided by Western European recognition of the Slovenes' aspirations and the low proportion of other ethnic groups in the country.