On Thursday, the European Commission released the fifth Regular Reports on the preparations of candidate countries to join the European Union. On the basis of these reports, ten countries are expected to join the EU in early 2004: Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia.

Overall, the Slovene report was positive. The report states that "Over the past year, Slovenia has further advanced, especially in the areas of free movement of persons, fisheries, Economic and Monetary Union, employment and social policy, regional policy, environment and financial control. Limited further progress has been made in the area of consumers and health protection."

Additionally, the recent amendments to the law on local self-government providing for representation of Roma communities in city councils was hailed as "good progress" in the field of minority rights.

Unfortunately, the minority rights section only took into account Slovenia’s three official minorities (i.e., the Italians, Hungarians and Roma) and overlooked those groups not granted official status (e.g., Serbs, Croats, Bosnian Muslims). However, the major problems facing the unofficial groups were mentioned elsewhere in the report.

Gains in public administration reform were praised as well. "…[T]he framework legislation for public administration reform is now in place," the report states, but goes on to advise that "It is important that these laws are now fully implemented."

While efforts at judiciary reform were recognized, the need for further efforts was also pointed out.

In terms of economic criteria, Slovenia was declared a functioning market economy. Problems observed include the continuing high inflation rate and the need for further privatization.

This year’s report deals with progress made in the period following last year’s report, up to 15 September 2002. Additionally, it includes an evaluation of the overall progress Slovenia has made since the start of accession negotiations five years ago.

With this year’s Regular Reports, the EC recommended that accession negotiations be concluded by the end of the year with those countries best prepared to join the Union. An accession treaty could be signed in spring 2003, and new members would then be set to assume full membership in 2004.

This is to be the final Regular Report for Slovenia and the other candidate countries, now called "acceding countries." In the future, the Regular Monitoring Reports will be prepared by the EC, with the final one to be issued six months before the date of accession. The reports are intended to ensure that the progress the countries have made so far is maintained and continues throughout the final stages of the accession process.

Prime Minister Janez Drnovšek told the press that the report recognizes Slovenia’s progress in the past year, adding that "from now on, everything depends on factors which we cannot influence much."

The prime minister also commented on the possibility of Slovenia entering the Union as a net contributor. "We will try to achieve the best possible position, but the set financial framework leaves little maneuvering space," he said.

There are several hurdles yet to be overcome in the enlargement process. The first is the 19 October referendum on the Nice Treaty in Ireland. The treaty concerns the reform of EU institutions in preparation for enlargement. Should Irish voters reject the treaty, the enlargement process would be put on hold until EU member states could negotiate a new path forward. Greek concerns over the status of Cyprus could also pose a threat.

Starting on Thursday, exactly 30 days before the 10 November presidential and local elections, candidates officially began their campaigns. They are permitted to continue to try to attract voters only until midnight on Friday, 8 November, when all campaigning activities must cease during the 24 hours before election day.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Drnovšek registered his candidacy, ending months of speculation over whether he would remain prime minister or seek the presidency. Drnovšek registered with the support of the party he leads, the LDS. Though he only needed the signatures of three members of parliament, he garnered the support of all 34 LDS representatives, as well as those of parliament’s Italian and Hungarian minority representatives.

Drnovšek further announced that he will step down from his post as prime minister before the elections, which will require the formation of a new government. Current Finance Minister Tone Rop is expected to become the new prime minister. The current government should remain essentially the same otherwise.

Although the final, official, list of candidates will not be released until after 21 October, of the sixteen people who announced their intention to campaign in the presidential election, only three have managed to register so far. Aside from Drnovšek, they are: former State Prosecutor General Barbara Brezigar, running as an independent but supported by the SDS and NSi parties; and chair of Ljubljana University’s philosophy department Lev Kreft, running as the candidate of the ZLSD.

On Monday, the Ljubljana University social studies faculty (FDV) presented the results of a study of public perception of corruption which showed that the public believes corruption is a significant problem, though few have encountered it personally.

Nearly 53 percent of respondents believe that corruption is a big problem, while just 7 percent believe that it is only a minor issue. Some 44 percent believe that many civil servants accept bribes, while about 30 percent believe that only some do.

The survey showed that respondents believe there is significant corruption among doctors, lawyers and notaries, while less corruption is perceived among teachers, police officers and tax officials.

More than 30 percent of the respondents said they are only aware of corruption via the media and just under 20 percent have actually encountered it in person.

Most of the respondents believe that corruption has increased since Slovenia’s independence from Yugoslavia. About one-third are certain that corruption has greatly increased since 1990, and nearly 30 percent believe it has somewhat increased. Only 16.4 percent said it has stayed the same. Just under ten percent believe it has lessened.

In a commentary for 24 ur, Boštjan Horvat wrote that this research marks the first time that Slovenia has explored the problem of corruption on its own. Previous reports have come from the Council of Europe, the Soros Foundation, Transparency International, the World Bank, the EBRD, The Economist and other international observers. According to the director of the Office for the Prevention of Corruption, Boštjan Penko, another study is in the works, this time concerning corruption in the private sector.