ZAGREB, April 17, 2018 – Slovenian Foreign Minister Karl Erjavec on Tuesday commented on the Croatian government decision to respond to Slovenia’s complaint to the European Commission regarding non-compliance with the arbitration ruling on the Croatia-Slovenia border dispute.
According to Slovenian Radio, Erjavec rhetorically asked why Croatia was responding to Slovenia’s announcement that it would sue Croatia for non-compliance with the arbitration ruling on the border dispute, saying that this was not a political issue but a matter of respecting the rule of law. Slovenia is not ruling out the agreement regarding the implementation of the arbitration decision, but it will not negotiate about where the demarcation line in the Piran Bay lies, Erjavec told Slovenian Radio.
The Croatian Foreign Ministry said on Monday that Croatia would reply to the European Commission regarding Slovenia’s complaint and present arguments showing that Slovenia has severely compromised the arbitration procedure.
The European Commission called on Croatia to submit a written opinion by April 17 on Slovenia’s letter asking the Commission for its opinion on whether Croatia was in breach of European and international law and announcing a suit at the European Court of Justice against Croatia unless the decision was implemented.
The EC has proposed May 2 for an oral hearing on Slovenia’s motion.
