Misplaced Pages

#710289

130-582: In the south the town borders Slovenia on the Mur River. On the other side of the river lies its twin city Gornja Radgona ( Oberradkersburg ) in the Slovenian Styria region. Bad Radkersburg is a spa town featuring a thermal spring with a temperature of 80 °C (176 °F). This and the longest sunshine duration in Austria make it an attractive site for tourism with over 100,000 stays per year. In

260-469: A United Slovenia , first advanced during the revolutions of 1848 , became the common platform of most Slovenian parties and political movements in Austria-Hungary. During the same period, Yugoslavism , an ideology stressing the unity of all South Slavic peoples , spread as a reaction to Pan-German nationalism and Italian irredentism . World War I brought heavy casualties to Slovenes, particularly

390-621: A limestone region of underground rivers, gorges, and caves, between Ljubljana and the Mediterranean Sea. On the Pannonian plain to the East and Northeast, toward the Croatian and Hungarian borders, the landscape is essentially flat. However, most of Slovenia is hilly or mountainous, with around 90% of its land surface 200 m (656 ft) or more above sea level . More than half of Slovenia, which

520-637: A group of intellectuals demanded Slovene independence in the 57th edition of the magazine Nova revija . Demands for democratisation and more Slovenian independence were sparked off. A mass democratic movement, coordinated by the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights , pushed the Communists in the direction of democratic reforms. In September 1989, numerous constitutional amendments were passed to introduce parliamentary democracy to Slovenia. On 7 March 1990,

650-595: A huge tribulation on a daily basis for the Turkish Cypriots " of Northern Cyprus , and it is unclear if this control is possible before the resolution of the dispute. The British Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia , a British Overseas Territory which is outside the EU, also needs "other handling and mechanisms". Akrotiri and Dhekelia has no border control to Cyprus, but has its own border control at its air base. As of 2018 no date has been fixed for implementation of

780-719: A long period between the 11th and 14th centuries, and were led by a number of important feudal families, such as the Dukes of Spanheim , the Counts of Gorizia , the Counts of Celje , and, finally, the House of Habsburg . In a parallel process, an intensive Germanization significantly diminished the extent of Slovene-speaking areas. By the 15th century, the Slovene ethnic territory was reduced to its present size. In 1335, Henry of Gorizia , Duke of Carinthia, Landgrave of Carniola and Count of Tyrol died without

910-608: A male heir, his daughter Margaret was able to keep the County of Tyrol , while the Wittelsbach emperor Louis IV passed Carinthia and Carniolan march to the Habsburg duke Albert II of Austria , whose mother, Elisabeth of Carinthia is a sister of the late duke Henry of Gorizia . Therefore, most of the territory of present-day Slovenia became a hereditary land of the Habsburg monarchy . As with

1040-592: A movement for self-determination, demanding the creation of a semi-independent South Slavic state under Habsburg rule. The proposal was picked up by most Slovene parties, and a mass mobilization of Slovene civil society, known as the Declaration Movement , followed. This demand was rejected by the Austrian political elites; but following the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in the aftermath of

1170-742: A newer natural geographic regionalisation, the country consists of four macroregions . These are the Alpine, the Mediterranean, the Dinaric, and the Pannonian landscapes. Macroregions are defined according to major relief units (the Alps, the Pannonian plain, the Dinaric mountains) and climate types (submediterranean, temperate continental, mountain climate). These are often quite interwoven. Protected areas of Slovenia include national parks, regional parks, and nature parks,

1300-554: A parliamentary question regarding "what obstacles remain in the path of Romanian accession to the Schengen area 15 years after joining the EU" as fulfilment of the accession criteria was recognised on 9 June 2011. A second attempt for Romania's accession to Schengen was to be established in the Justice and Home Affairs Council from 8–9 December 2022, with the EC announcing the topics on the agenda of

1430-629: A part of the Schengen agreement, often for the sake of liaising over law enforcement. In 2020, the UK declared its intent to withdraw from these arrangements at the end of its transition period , and did so on 31 December 2020. In contrast, while Ireland initially submitted a request to participate in the Schengen acquis in 2002, which was approved by the Council of the European Union, that decision took nearly eighteen years to be put into effect. In February 2010

SECTION 10

#1732858173711

1560-468: A questionnaire and visits by EU experts to selected institutions and workplaces in the country under assessment. Notes The procedure to enter the Schengen Area is that European Commission evaluates certain criteria. These criteria include border control legislation, infrastructure and organisation, personal data protection, visas, deportations, police cooperation and more. After a positive evaluation

1690-461: A result, the border between Svalbard and the rest of Norway is largely treated like any other external Schengen border. A Schengen visa must be multiple entry to allow returning to Norway. There is no welfare or asylum system for immigrants on Svalbard, and people incapable of supporting themselves may be sent away. The Danish territories of the Faroe Islands and Greenland are neither part of

1820-517: A separate visa system from the European part of the Netherlands and people travelling between these islands and the Schengen Area are subjected to full border checks, with a passport being required even for EU/Schengen citizens, including Dutch (national ID cards are not accepted). Svalbard is part of Norway and has a special status under international law . It is not part of the Schengen Area. There

1950-767: A tiny area transferred to the Independent State of Croatia , a newly declared Nazi puppet state . In 1945, it again became part of Yugoslavia . Post-war, Yugoslavia was allied with the Eastern Bloc , but after the Tito–Stalin split of 1948, it never subscribed to the Warsaw Pact , and in 1961 it became one of the founders of the Non-Aligned Movement . In June 1991, Slovenia declared independence from Yugoslavia and became an independent sovereign state . Slovenia

2080-510: A value of €2.8 trillion. The decrease in the cost of trade due to Schengen varies from 0.42% to 1.59% depending on geography, trade partners, and other factors. Countries outside of the Schengen Area also benefit. States in the Schengen Area have strengthened border controls with non-Schengen countries. Before the First World War , most countries of the world, including Europe, had lax border policies, facilitating such educational trips as

2210-449: A visa either upon arrival or in transit. While Bulgaria and Romania, which joined the EU on 1 January 2007, were legally bound to join the Schengen Area, implementation had been delayed. On 15 October 2010, Bulgaria and Romania joined SIS II for law enforcement cooperation. On 9 June 2011, the Council of Ministers concluded that the evaluation process had been completed successfully and that

2340-436: A visa to enter the Schengen Area need a multiple-entry visa to visit Andorra, because entering Andorra means leaving the Schengen Area, and re-entering France or Spain is considered a new entry into the Schengen Area. Andorran citizens do not receive a passport stamp when they enter and leave the Schengen Area. Andorra's ambassador to Spain, Jaume Gaytán, has said that he hopes that the agreement will include provisions to make

2470-702: Is 11,823 km or 4,565 sq mi, is forested; ranking it third in Europe, by percentage of area forested , after Finland and Sweden . The areas are covered mostly by beech , fir -beech and beech- oak forests and have a relatively high production capacity. Remnants of primeval forests are still to be found, the largest in the Kočevje area. Grassland covers 5,593 km (2,159 sq mi) and fields and gardens (954 km or 368 sq mi). There are 363 km (140 sq mi) of orchards and 216 km (83 sq mi) of vineyards. Slovenia

2600-536: Is a developed country , with a high-income economy characterized by a mixture of both traditional industries, such as manufacturing and agriculture, and modern sectors, such as information technology and financial service. The economy is highly dependent on foreign trade, with exports accounting for a significant portion of the country's GDP. Slovenia is a member of the European Union , the United Nations , NATO ,

2730-559: Is also influenced by the variety of relief, and the influence of the Alps and the Adriatic Sea . In the northeast, the continental climate type with the greatest difference between winter and summer temperatures prevails. In the coastal region, there is a sub- Mediterranean climate . The effect of the sea on the temperature rates is also visible up the Soča Valley, while a severe Alpine climate

SECTION 20

#1732858173711

2860-515: Is also valid for the French side. France also has several territories which are neither part of the EU nor the Schengen Area. These are: French Polynesia , French Southern and Antarctic Lands , New Caledonia , Saint Barthélemy , Saint-Pierre and Miquelon , and Wallis and Futuna . Only the Netherlands' European territory is part of the Schengen Area. Six Dutch territories in the Caribbean are outside

2990-599: Is considered a kind of flute, and possibly the oldest musical instrument discovered in the world. In the 1920s and 1930s, artifacts belonging to the Cro-Magnon , such as pierced bones, bone points, and a needle were found by archaeologist Srečko Brodar in Potok Cave . In 2002, remains of pile dwellings over 4,500 years old were discovered in the Ljubljana Marsh , now protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site , along with

3120-679: Is in a rather active seismic zone because of its position on the small Adriatic Plate , which is squeezed between the Eurasian Plate to the north and the African Plate to the south and rotates counter-clockwise. Thus the country is at the junction of three important geotectonic units: the Alps to the north, the Dinaric Alps to the south and the Pannonian Basin to the east. Scientists have been able to identify 60 destructive earthquakes in

3250-452: Is less controversial from a migrant control perspective, because airlines are already required to check identity documents before boarding. Due to anti-terrorism legislation, this has long been common practice, even for routes within the same country. On 22 November 2024, Austria agreed to lift its veto on Bulgaria and Romania's full accession. On 27 November 2024 the Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER) finalised preparations for

3380-470: Is no visa regime in existence for Svalbard either for entry, residence or work, but it is difficult to visit Svalbard without travelling through the Schengen Area, although there are charter flights from Russia. Since 2011, the Norwegian government has imposed systematic border checks on individuals wishing to enter and leave Svalbard, requiring a passport or national identity card for non-Norwegian citizens. As

3510-576: Is present in the high mountain regions. There is a strong interaction between these three climatic systems across most of the country. Precipitation , often coming from the Gulf of Genoa , varies across the country as well, with over 3,500 mm (138 in) in some western regions and dropping down to 800 mm (31 in) in Prekmurje . Snow is quite frequent in winter and the record snow cover in Ljubljana

3640-962: The Alps , the Dinarides , the Pannonian Plain , and the Mediterranean Sea. Although on the shore of the Adriatic Sea near the Mediterranean Sea, most of Slovenia is in the Black Sea drainage basin . The Alps—including the Julian Alps , the Kamnik-Savinja Alps and the Karawank chain, as well as the Pohorje massif—dominate Northern Slovenia along its long border with Austria . Slovenia's Adriatic coastline stretches approximately 47 kilometres (29 mi) from Italy to Croatia. The term " Karst topography " refers to that of southwestern Slovenia's Karst Plateau ,

3770-586: The British Nationality Act 1981 , Gibraltarians had been counted as British nationals for the purposes of Community law, and as such they had enjoyed full free movement within the European Economic Area and Switzerland . During the Brexit transition period until 31 December 2020, Gibraltar was still for most purposes treated as an EU territory. On 31 December 2020, the governments of Spain and of

3900-614: The Council of the European Union authorised the opening of negotiations for agreements between the European Union and Andorra and San Marino, respectively, in order to create a legal basis for the absence of border controls between these countries and the Schengen area. Andorra is landlocked and does not have an airport or seaport, but there are several heliports. Visitors to the country can gain access only by road or helicopter through Schengen members France or Spain. Andorra has no border controls with either France or Spain. Border control points exist and border controls may be carried out in

4030-847: The Croatian-Slovenian peasant revolt wrought havoc throughout the wider region. Such uprisings, which often met with bloody defeats, continued throughout the 17th century. After the dissolution of the Republic of Venice in 1797 , the Venetian Slovenia was passed to the Austrian Empire. The Slovene Lands were part of the French-administered Illyrian Provinces established by Napoleon, the Austrian Empire and Austria-Hungary . Slovenes inhabited most of Carniola ,

Bad Radkersburg - Misplaced Pages Continue

4160-448: The Dukes of Styria , but possibly to an aristocrat named Radger to whom it had been given by the German king . A market is documented in a 1265/67 urbarium issued under King Ottokar II of Bohemia , who ruled Styria from 1261 to 1278, however, contemporary research suggests that the present-day town was founded by the Habsburg king Albert I of Germany , Duke of Styria, in the end of

4290-562: The EC structures , but led to the creation of the Schengen Area on 26 March 1995. As more EU member states signed the Schengen Agreement, consensus was reached on absorbing it into the procedures of the EU. The Agreement and its related conventions were incorporated into the mainstream of European Union law by the Amsterdam Treaty in 1997, which came into effect in 1999. A consequence of

4420-684: The European Commission , and seven Slovene parliamentarians were elected to the European Parliament at elections on 13 June 2004. In 2004 Slovenia also joined NATO . Slovenia subsequently succeeded in meeting the Maastricht criteria and joined the Eurozone (the first transition country to do so) on 1 January 2007. It was the first post-Communist country to hold the Presidency of the Council of

4550-518: The European Communities (EC), the predecessor of the EU, was established in the 1950s for economic cooperation, though it did not deal with border control issues. The first move towards the abolition of border controls between EC member states took place on 14 June 1985 with the signing of the Schengen Agreement by five EEC members - the Benelux countries as well as France and West Germany - of

4680-619: The European Union (EU), it mostly functions as a single jurisdiction under a common visa policy for international travel purposes. The area is named after the 1985 Schengen Agreement and the 1990 Schengen Convention , both signed in Schengen, Luxembourg . Of the 27 EU member states , 25 are members of the Schengen Area. Bulgaria and Romania , the newest members, have had air and maritime borders open since March 2024, with certain land border controls expected to be lifted no earlier than 1 July 2025. The only EU member states that are not part of

4810-607: The European Union (EU). Two of the non-EU members – Iceland and Norway  – are part of the Nordic Passport Union and are officially classified as states associated with the Schengen activities of the EU. Switzerland was allowed to participate in the same manner in 2008, and Liechtenstein in 2011. Bulgaria and Romania , the newest members of the Schengen Area, have had air and maritime borders open since March 2024, with land border controls expected to be lifted on 1 January 2025. De facto ,

4940-562: The First World War , the National Council of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs took power in Zagreb on 6 October 1918. On 29 October, independence was declared by a national gathering in Ljubljana, and by the Croatian parliament, declaring the establishment of the new State of Slovenes, Croats, and Serbs . On 1 December 1918, the State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs merged with Serbia , becoming part of

5070-543: The Grand Tour amongst the upper classes. Visas became commonplace during the interwar period , as did border controls. After the Second World War , however, customs unions arose between various European countries. The Nordic countries allowed free movement and residence between them in 1954 , and the countries of Benelux abolished their mutual borders in 1960. This reflected a greater trend towards European integration;

5200-443: The Italian architect Domenico dell'Allio . Radkersburg was elevated to an Imperial fortress by resolution of the 1582 Diet of Augsburg . In the course of the 19th century language conflict, nationalist struggles in the ethnically mixed area arose between the predominantly German-speaking citizens and the Slovene-speaking peasant population down the Mur River. A garrison town of the Austro-Hungarian Army in World War I , it

5330-431: The Ljubljana Marshes Wooden Wheel , the oldest wooden wheel in the world. It shows that wooden wheels appeared almost simultaneously in Mesopotamia and Europe. In the transition period between the Bronze Age to the Iron Age , the Urnfield culture flourished. Archaeological remains dating from the Hallstatt period have been found, particularly in southeastern Slovenia, among them a number of situlas in Novo Mesto ,

Bad Radkersburg - Misplaced Pages Continue

5460-517: The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe , and other associations in the global community. The name Slovenia etymologically means 'land of the Slavs '. The origin of the name Slav itself remains uncertain. The suffix -en forms a demonym . Present-day Slovenia has been inhabited since prehistoric times. There is evidence of human habitation from around 250,000 years ago. A pierced cave bear bone , dating from 43100 ± 700 BP , found in 1995 in Divje Babe cave near Cerkno ,

5590-516: The Prekmurje region, perished in 1944 in the holocaust of Hungarian Jews . The German-speaking minority, amounting to 2.5% of the Slovenian population prior to the war, was either expelled or killed in the aftermath of the war. Hundreds of Istrian Italians and Slovenes that opposed communism were killed in the foibe massacres , and more than 25,000 fled or were expelled from Slovenian Istria . Around 130,000 persons, mostly political and military opponents, were executed in May and June 1945. During

5720-466: The Province of Ljubljana , the Slovenian National Liberation Front was organized in April 1941. Led by the Communist Party, it formed the Slovene Partisan units as part of the Yugoslav Partisans led by the Communist leader Josip Broz Tito . After the resistance started in summer 1941, Italian violence against the Slovene civilian population escalated. The Italian authorities deported some 25,000 people to concentration camps , which equaled 7.5% of

5850-419: The Republic of Venice , the Illyrian Provinces of Napoleon's First French Empire and the Habsburg Empire . In October 1918, the Slovenes co-founded the State of Slovenes, Croats, and Serbs . In December 1918, they merged with the Kingdom of Montenegro and the Kingdom of Serbia into the Kingdom of Yugoslavia . During World War II , Germany , Italy , and Hungary occupied and annexed Slovenia, with

5980-418: The Schengen Information System (SIS) (participation in the SIS allows for cooperation on crime, immigration and other security-related matters within the Schengen Area). In October 2023, the Commission was to "verify that the necessary conditions for the application of the Schengen acquis in the field of the Schengen Information System have been met". As a result of Brexit , Gibraltar ceased to be part of

6110-418: The Slovene Littoral and the Julian Alps . Ljubljana , the capital and largest city of Slovenia, is geographically situated near the centre of the country. Other larger urban centers are Maribor , Kranj , Celje and Koper . Slovenia's territory has been part of many different states: the Roman Empire , the Byzantine Empire , the Carolingian Empire , the Holy Roman Empire , the Kingdom of Hungary ,

6240-431: The Vatican City — are not officially part of the Schengen Area, but are considered de facto within the Schengen Area, as they have open or semi-open borders and do not conduct systematic border controls with the Schengen countries that surround them. Some national laws have the text "countries against which border control is not performed based on the Schengen Agreement and the 562/2006 EU regulation", which then includes

6370-411: The juxtaposed controls at Eurostar stations, although he admitted the situation there is slightly different. On 31 December 2020, Spain's foreign minister, Arancha González Laya said that she anticipated that it would take about six months to negotiate and conclude a treaty but that in the meantime Spain would work to ensure that mobility at the border would be "as fluid as possible". Apart from

6500-429: The " Town of Situlas ". The area that is present-day Slovenia was in Roman times shared between Venetia et Histria (region X of Roman Italia in the classification of Augustus ) and the provinces Pannonia and Noricum . The Romans established posts at Emona (Ljubljana), Poetovio (Ptuj), and Celeia (Celje); and constructed trade and military roads that ran across Slovene territory from Italy to Pannonia. In

6630-419: The "Apostle of Carantanians". This process, together with the Christianization of the Bavarians , was later described in the memorandum known as the Conversio Bagoariorum et Carantanorum , which is thought to have overemphasized the role of the Church of Salzburg in the Christianization process over similar efforts of the Patriarchate of Aquileia . In the mid-8th century, Carantania became a vassal duchy under

SECTION 50

#1732858173711

6760-464: The 13th century. The appearance of the city today is apparently based on a precise plan, surrounded by a wall with towers. Radkersburg was first mentioned as a town in 1299. Located near the border with the Kingdom of Hungary , it was affected by the armed conflict between King Matthias Corvinus and Emperor Frederick III in the late 15th century. During the Ottoman–Habsburg wars , extended fortifications were laid out according to plans designed by

6890-428: The 1920s, followed by a relatively successful economic adjustment to the 1929 economic crisis and Great Depression . Following a plebiscite in October 1920, the Slovene-speaking southern Carinthia was ceded to Austria . With the Treaty of Trianon , the Kingdom of Yugoslavia was awarded the mostly Slovene-inhabited Prekmurje region, formerly part of Austria-Hungary. Slovenes living in territories that fell under

7020-514: The 1970s more airlines were created including Slovenian Adria Airways mostly focused in the growing tourist industry. Until the 1980s, Slovenia enjoyed relatively broad autonomy within the federation. It was the most liberal communist state in Europe, and the passport of the Yugoslavia Federation allowed Yugoslavians to travel to the most world countries of any socialist country during the Cold War. Many people worked in western countries, which reduced unemployment in their home country. Opposition to

7150-408: The 5th and 6th centuries, the area was subject to invasions by the Huns and Germanic tribes during their incursions into Italy. A part of the inner state was protected with a defensive line of towers and walls called Claustra Alpium Iuliarum . A crucial battle between Theodosius I and Eugenius took place in the Vipava Valley in 394. The Slavic tribes migrated to the Alpine area after

7280-438: The Agreement being part of European law is that any amendment or regulation is made within its processes, in which the non-EU members are not participants. The UK, the Crown Dependencies, and the Republic of Ireland have operated a Common Travel Area (CTA) since 1923 (with passport-free travel and freedom of movement with each other), but the UK would not abolish border controls with any other countries and therefore opted out of

7410-454: The Agreement. While not signing the Schengen Treaty, the Republic of Ireland has always looked more favourably on joining, but has not done so in order to maintain the CTA and its open border with Northern Ireland . The common visa policy allows nationals of certain countries to enter the Schengen Area via air, land or sea without a visa for stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period. Nationals of certain other countries are required to have

7540-445: The Area. Three of these territories – Bonaire , Sint Eustatius and Saba (collectively known as the BES islands ) – are special municipalities within the Netherlands proper. The other three – Aruba , Curaçao and Sint Maarten – are autonomous countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. All islands retain their status as Overseas countries and territories and are thus not part of the European Union . The six territories have

7670-440: The Common Travel Area and not join the Schengen Area for the foreseeable future , because it wants to keep open its land border with the UK . In 1999, the UK formally requested participation in certain provisions of the Schengen acquis – Title III relating to Police Security and Judicial Cooperation, and this request was approved by the Council of the European Union on 29 May 2000. The United Kingdom's formal participation in

7800-416: The Communist party were persecuted and thousands were sent to Goli otok . The late 1950s saw a policy of liberalization in the cultural sphere as well, and unlimited border crossing into western countries was allowed, both for Yugoslav citizens and for foreigners. In 1956, Josip Broz Tito , together with other leaders, founded the Non-Aligned Movement . In the 1950s, Slovenia's economy developed rapidly and

7930-459: The Council of the European Union decision, expected to be made at a meeting on 12 December 2024, enabling Bulgaria and Romania to become full members of the Schengen Area as of 1 January 2025. However, temporary land border controls between Hungary and Romania and between Romania and Bulgaria will be maintained by agreement for at least for six more months. The Schengen Area consists of 29 countries, including four which are not members of

SECTION 60

#1732858173711

8060-411: The EU apply, but each territory operates its own visa regime for non- European Economic Area (EEA), non-Swiss nationals. While a visa valid for one of these territories will be valid for all, visa exemption lists differ. A Schengen visa, even one issued by France, is not valid for these territories. A visa for Sint Maarten (which is valid for travelling to the Dutch side of the island of Saint Martin )

8190-405: The EU by the Treaty of Amsterdam , Ireland and the United Kingdom were the only member states that had not signed the Agreement. The UK did not want to join and Ireland wished to maintain its Common Travel Area with the United Kingdom and associated islands , an arrangement that would be incompatible with Schengen membership while the UK remained out. As a result, both negotiated an opt-out from

8320-414: The European Union , for the first six months of 2008. On 21 July 2010, it became a member of the OECD. The disillusionment with domestic socio-economic elites at municipal and national levels was expressed at the 2012–2013 Slovenian protests on a wider scale than in the smaller 15 October 2011 protests . In relation to the leading politicians' response to allegations made by the official Commission for

8450-400: The European Union nor part of the Schengen Area, and visas to Denmark are not automatically valid in these territories. However, both of these territories lack border controls on arrivals from the Schengen Area, and the air or sea carriers are responsible for carrying out document checks before boarding, as is common for travel inside the Schengen Area. Citizens of EU/EFTA countries can travel to

8580-414: The European Union on 31 January 2020, although for most purposes it was treated as part of it during the transition phase until 31 December 2020. Like the United Kingdom, it had not been part of the Schengen Area but, unlike the United Kingdom, Gibraltar had also been outside of the EU customs union . Owing to a declaration lodged by the United Kingdom with the EEC in 1982, in view of the entry into force of

8710-413: The Faroes and back using a passport or a national ID card and to Greenland using a passport only, while citizens of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway or Sweden can use any acceptable identification (such as driving licences or bank ID cards; although this is advised against since aircraft might be diverted to Scotland in bad weather). When EU states were negotiating subsuming the Schengen Agreement into

8840-409: The Frankish feudal system reached the Slovene territory. After the victory of Emperor Otto I over the Magyars in 955, Slovene territory was divided into a number of border regions of the Holy Roman Empire . Carantania was elevated into the Duchy of Carinthia in 976. By the 11th century, the Germanization of what is now Lower Austria , effectively isolated the Slovene-inhabited territory from

8970-399: The Irish Minister for Justice, in response to a parliamentary question, said that: "The measures which will enable Ireland to meet its Schengen requirements are currently being progressed". Ireland joined the law enforcement aspect of SIS II on 1 January 2021 with plans to have "full operational capacity" two months later. Four European microstates — Andorra , Monaco , San Marino and

9100-444: The Prevention of Corruption of the Republic of Slovenia , legal experts expressed the need for changes in the system that would limit political arbitrariness . Slovenia is in Southern Europe touching the east Alps and bordering the Mediterranean Sea . This locates Slovenia within the Mediterranean basin. It lies between latitudes 45° and 47° N , and longitudes 13° and 17° E . The 15th meridian east almost corresponds to

9230-458: The Schengen Agreement. The only areas of Schengen member states located in Europe but excluded are the Faroe Islands and Svalbard. The French overseas departments of French Guiana , Guadeloupe , Martinique , Mayotte and Réunion , and the overseas collectivity of Saint Martin are part of the European Union but do not form part of the Schengen Area; so one cannot travel there with a French Schengen Visa. The freedom of movement provisions of

9360-463: The Schengen Area also includes four European micro-states – Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, and the Vatican City ;– that maintain open or semi-open borders with other Schengen member countries. One EU member state – Ireland  – negotiated opt-outs from Schengen and continues to operate border controls with other EU member states, while at

9490-406: The Schengen Area are Cyprus and Ireland . Cyprus is committed by treaty to join in the future, while Ireland maintains an opt-out and operates its own visa policy . Denmark also maintains an opt-out from the wider AFSJ policy area, but has adopted the Schengen acquis on an intergovernmental basis. Denmark does not have voting powers for introductions and revocations of measures applied to

9620-546: The Schengen Area due to their small size and difficulty of maintaining active border controls. The Schengen Area has a population of more than 450 million people and an area of 4,595,131 square kilometres (1,774,190 sq mi). About 1.7 million people commute to work across an internal European border each day, and in some regions these people constitute up to a third of the workforce. In 2015, there were 1.3 billion crossings of Schengen borders in total. Fifty-seven million crossings were due to transport of goods by road, with

9750-488: The Schengen Area in 2023, with border control-free travel by air planned for October 2023, followed by the abolition of land border controls by 1 January 2024. In a resolution, which members of the European Parliament called on the Council to approve Romania and Bulgaria’s accession to the Schengen free-travel area by the end of 2023, adopted on 12 July with 526 votes in favour, 57 votes against, and 42 abstaining, Parliament stresses that "both countries have already fulfilled

9880-494: The Schengen Area. UK citizens who are not residents of Gibraltar will be subjected to third-country national checks when they enter Gibraltar through the Gibraltar port or airport. It is anticipated that the third-country national check will entail two controls, one by Gibraltar's Borders and Coastguard Agency , giving entry into Gibraltar, and one by Frontex , giving entry into the Schengen Area. Picardo likened this arrangement to

10010-539: The Schengen area as a result of this opt-out. In addition to the member states of the European Union, all member states of the European Free Trade Association , namely Iceland , Liechtenstein , Norway and Switzerland , have signed association agreements with the EU to be part of the Schengen Area. Moreover, the territory of four microstates  – Andorra , Monaco , San Marino and Vatican City  – is de facto included in

10140-489: The Schengen members of the Council of the European Union decides unanimously together with the European Parliament to accept the new member. Although Cyprus , which joined the EU on 1 May 2004, is legally bound to join the Schengen Area, implementation has been delayed because of the Cyprus dispute . According to former Cypriot Minister of Foreign Affairs Giorgos Lillikas , "strict and full control based on Schengen will create

10270-480: The Schengen rules by Cyprus. Cyprus has less potential benefit from an implementation of Schengen, for it has no land border with another EU member; air travel or around 12 hours of sea travel is needed to the nearest EU member. In November 2019, Cyprus's Foreign Affairs Minister Nikos Christodoulides revealed that Cyprus formally began the process of joining the Schengen Area in September. In July 2023, Cyprus joined

10400-661: The Slovene refugees in Italian camps were treated as state enemies, and several thousand died of malnutrition and diseases between 1915 and 1918. Entire areas of the Slovene Littoral were destroyed. The Treaty of Rapallo of 1920 left approximately 327,000 out of the total population of 1.3 million Slovenes in Italy. After the fascists took power in Italy, they were subjected to a policy of violent Fascist Italianization . This caused

10530-681: The Slovenian Assembly changed the official name of the state to the "Republic of Slovenia". In April 1990, the first democratic election in Slovenia took place, and the united opposition movement DEMOS led by Jože Pučnik emerged victorious. The initial revolutionary events in Slovenia pre-dated the Revolutions of 1989 in Eastern Europe by almost a year, but went largely unnoticed by international observers. On 23 December 1990, more than 88% of

10660-684: The Slovenian Littoral, incorporating them into what was known as the Operation Zone of Adriatic Coastal Region . They united the Slovene anti-Communist counter-insurgence into the Slovene Home Guard and appointed a puppet regime in the Province of Ljubljana. The anti-Nazi resistance however expanded, creating its own administrative structures as the basis for Slovene statehood within a new, federal and socialist Yugoslavia. In 1945, Yugoslavia

10790-485: The US , but also to South America (the main part to Argentina ), Germany, Egypt , and to larger cities in Austria-Hungary, especially Vienna and Graz . Despite this emigration, the population of Slovenia increased significantly. Literacy was exceptionally high, at 80–90%. The 19th century also saw a revival of culture in Slovene , accompanied by a Romantic nationalist quest for cultural and political autonomy. The idea of

10920-776: The United Kingdom (advised by the Government of Gibraltar ) came to an agreement in principle on a framework for a UK-EU treaty on aspects of Gibraltar's future relationship with the European Union. Both Spain and the Head of the UK Mission to the European Union subsequently indicated with the European Commission their desire that such an agreement be negotiated and that the EU should seek a mandate for that purpose. Chief Minister of Gibraltar Fabian Picardo stated that he anticipates that

11050-566: The accession of Bulgaria. In Romania, the Austrian veto caused strong indignation. As a result of the veto, relations between the two states were reduced following the withdrawal of Romania's ambassador to Austria from Vienna . A boycott against Austria by Romanian companies, entrepreneurs, museums and universities also began, and anti-Austrian inscriptions also appeared in branches of Austrian banks in Romania. According to Euractiv , European institutions prepared to admit Bulgaria and Romania in

11180-628: The ancestors of the Slovenes located in present-day Carinthia formed the independent duchy of Carantania , and Carniola , later duchy Carniola. Other parts of present-day Slovenia were again ruled by Avars before Charlemagne 's victory over them in 803. The Carantanians , one of the ancestral groups of the modern Slovenes, particularly the Carinthian Slovenes , were the first Slavic people to accept Christianity . They were mostly Christianized by Irish missionaries, among them Modestus , known as

11310-473: The arrangement, which will apply for an initial period of four years, will make Gibraltar's port and airport entry points to the Schengen Area. These entry points will be managed by a Frontex operation. Spain, as the neighbouring Schengen member state, will be responsible as regards the European Union for the implementation of the Schengen acquis. Residents of Gibraltar, regardless of their nationality, are anticipated to enjoy maximised and unrestricted mobility to

11440-566: The country in a few weeks. The southern part, including Ljubljana , was annexed to Italy, while the Nazis took over the northern and eastern parts of the country. The Nazis had a plan of ethnic cleansing of these areas, and they resettled or expelled the local Slovene civilian population to the puppet states of Nedić's Serbia (7,500) and NDH (10,000). In addition, some 46,000 Slovenes were expelled to Germany, including children who were separated from their parents and allocated to German families. At

11570-445: The course of a Styrian administrative reform, the town merged with the neighbouring municipality of Radkersburg Umgebung with combined population of 3158 inhabitants, in effect from 1 January 2015. It is not known when Radkersburg was first settled or where the first settlement, mentioned in an 1182 deed, was located. It is also not known when it fell under princely territorial rule. Most likely, Radkersburg originally did not belong to

11700-609: The electorate voted for a sovereign and independent Slovenia. On 25 June 1991, Slovenia became independent. On 27 June in the early morning, the Yugoslav People's Army dispatched its forces to prevent further measures for the establishment of a new country, which led to the Ten-Day War . On 7 July, the Brijuni Agreement was signed, implementing a truce and a three-month halt of the enforcement of Slovenia's independence. At

11830-567: The end of the month, the last soldiers of the Yugoslav Army left Slovenia. In December 1991, a new constitution was adopted, followed in 1992 by the laws on denationalisation and privatisation . The members of the European Union recognised Slovenia as an independent state on 15 January 1992, and the United Nations accepted it as a member on 22 May 1992. Slovenia joined the European Union on 1 May 2004. Slovenia has one Commissioner in

11960-508: The failure of forced collectivisation that was attempted from 1949 to 1953, a policy of gradual economic liberalisation, known as workers self-management , was introduced under the advice and supervision of the Slovene Marxist theoretician and Communist leader Edvard Kardelj , the main ideologue of the Titoist path to socialism. Suspected opponents of this policy both from within and outside

12090-425: The largest of which is Triglav National Park . There are 286 Natura 2000 designated protected areas, which include 36% of the country's land area, the largest percentage among European Union states. Additionally, according to Yale University 's Environmental Performance Index , Slovenia is considered a "strong performer" in environmental protection efforts. Slovenia is located in temperate latitudes. The climate

12220-556: The mass emigration of Slovenes, especially the middle class, from the Slovene Littoral and Trieste to Yugoslavia and South America. Those who remained organized several connected networks of both passive and armed resistance. The best known was the militant anti-fascist organization TIGR , formed in 1927 to fight Fascist oppression of the Slovene and Croat populations in the Julian March . The Slovene People's Party launched

12350-422: The meeting, which failed following opposition by Austria, as officials considered Bulgaria and Romania to be a transit route for most immigrants to the country . Romania disputes that assessment, and had unsuccessfully attempted to convince the Austrian government to vote for Romania's accession to Schengen. Despite having declared support for Romania, the Netherlands also voted against due to its opposition for

12480-519: The microstates and other non-EU areas with open borders. The three microstates cannot issue Schengen visas and with the exception of Monaco, are not formally part of the Schengen Area. As of 2015 , Andorra, Monaco and San Marino were negotiating an Association Agreement with the EU. Monaco left the negotiations in 2023, while an agreement for Andorra and San Marino is expected to be concluded in 2024. The agreement only concerns free movement of people and not border control issues. However, on 30 May 2024,

12610-587: The middle line of the country in the direction west–east. The Geometric Centre of the Republic of Slovenia is located at coordinates 46°07'11.8" N and 14°48'55.2" E. It lies in Slivna in the Municipality of Litija . Slovenia's highest peak is Triglav (2,864 m or 9,396 ft); the country's average height above sea level is 557 m (1,827 ft). Four major European geographic regions meet in Slovenia:

12740-569: The municipal council ( Gemeinderat ) as of 2010 (local elections): Bad Radkersburg is twinned with: Slovenia – in Europe  (green & dark grey) – in the European Union  (green) Slovenia officially the Republic of Slovenia is a country in Central Europe . It borders Italy to the west, Austria to the north, Hungary to the northeast, Croatia to

12870-577: The necessary requirements to be admitted into Schengen". However, in September 2023 Austria reiterated its objection to admitting the countries to the Schengen Area. In response, Romania threatened to challenge Austria's veto at the European Court of Justice to claim financial compensation. On 30 December 2023, an agreement was reached for Bulgaria and Romania to join the Schengen Area for air and sea travel on 31 March 2024, with land borders to be discussed later that year. Lifting air and sea borders

13000-506: The neighbouring municipality of Apače ( Abstall ), on the south bank, became part of Yugoslavia. The nationalist conflicts lingered on, on both sides of the border. In World War II many members of the German minority greeted the Wehrmacht invasion of Yugoslavia in 1941 and joined the German combat units, while large parts of Radkersburg were devastated by armed conflicts. After the war, most of

13130-629: The new Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes ; in 1929 it was renamed the Kingdom of Yugoslavia . The main territory of Slovenia, being the most industrialized and westernized compared to other less developed parts of Yugoslavia, became the main centre of industrial production: Compared to Serbia, for example, Slovenian industrial production was four times greater; and it was 22 times greater than in North Macedonia . The interwar period brought further industrialization in Slovenia, with rapid economic growth in

13260-559: The other western Slavs , speeding up the development of the Slavs of Carantania and of Carniola into an independent Carantanian/Carniolans/Slovene ethnic group. By the High Middle Ages , the historic provinces of Carniola, Styria , Carinthia , Gorizia , Trieste , and Istria developed from the border regions and were incorporated into the medieval Holy Roman Empire . The consolidation and formation of these historical lands took place in

13390-485: The other component parts of the Habsburg monarchy , Carinthia and Carniola remained a semi-autonomous state with its own constitutional structure for a long time. The counts of Celje , a feudal family from this area who in 1436 acquired the title of state princes, were Habsburgs ' powerful competitors for some time. This large dynasty, important at a European political level, had its seat in Slovene territory but died out in 1456. Its numerous large estates subsequently became

13520-435: The other direction, but these are more focused on customs control ( Andorra has considerably lower taxes than its neighbours, with for example a standard VAT rate of just 4.5% ). Andorra does not have any visa requirements. Citizens of EU countries need either a national identity card or passport to enter Andorra, while anyone else requires a passport or equivalent. Schengen visas are accepted, but those travellers who need

13650-444: The part of the treaty which was to incorporate the Schengen rules (or acquis ) into EU Law when it came into effect on 1 May 1999. Under the relevant protocol, either may request to participate in aspects of the Schengen acquis but this is subject to the approval of the Schengen states. On 31 January 2020, the United Kingdom withdrew from the European Union and the protocol ceased to apply to it. Ireland will continue to operate

13780-414: The past. Additionally, a network of seismic stations is active throughout the country. Many parts of Slovenia have a carbonate bedrock and extensive cave systems have developed. The first regionalisations of Slovenia were made by geographers Anton Melik (1935–1936) and Svetozar Ilešič (1968). The newer regionalisation by Ivan Gams divided Slovenia in the following macroregions: According to

13910-619: The population of their occupation zone. The most infamous ones were Rab and Gonars . To counter the Communist-led insurgence, the Italians sponsored local anti-guerrilla units, formed mostly by the local conservative Catholic Slovene population that resented the revolutionary violence of the partisans. After the Italian armistice of September 1943, the Germans took over both the Province of Ljubljana and

14040-514: The previously approved areas of cooperation was put into effect by a 2004 Council decision that came into effect on 1 January 2005. Although the United Kingdom was not part of the Schengen passport-free area, it still used the Schengen Information System , a governmental database used by European countries to store and disseminate information on individuals and property. This allowed the UK to exchange information with countries that are

14170-641: The property of the Habsburgs, who retained control of the area right up until the beginning of the 20th century. Patria del Friuli ruled present western Slovenia until Venetian takeover in 1420. At the end of the Middle Ages, the Slovene Lands suffered a serious economic and demographic setback because of the Turkish raids . In 1515, a peasant revolt spread across nearly the whole Slovene territory. In 1572 and 1573

14300-537: The re-establishment of Yugoslavia in World War II, the first Slovenian republic, Federal Slovenia , was created and it became part of Federal Yugoslavia . It was a socialist state , but because of the Tito–Stalin split in 1948, economic and personal freedoms were much broader than in the Eastern Bloc countries. In 1947, the Slovene Littoral and the western half of Inner Carniola , which had been annexed by Italy after World War One, were annexed to Slovenia. After

14430-479: The regime was mostly limited to intellectual and literary circles and became especially vocal after Tito's death in 1980 when the economic and political situation in Yugoslavia became very strained. Political disputes around economic measures were echoed in the public sentiment, as many Slovenians felt they were being economically exploited, having to sustain an expensive and inefficient federal administration. In 1987

14560-610: The remaining German-speaking population south of the Mur was forcibly expelled . The Radkersburg bridge across the Mur was reopened on October 12, 1969, which led to a first rapprochement between Austria and Yugoslavia . In 1975 the town achieved spa status, another thermal spring was made accessible in 1978, soon followed by an extension to the bathing site. Since Slovenia joined the Schengen Area in 2007, border controls between Radkersburg and Gornja Radgona have been abolished. Seats in

14690-846: The rule of the Bavarians , who began spreading Christianity . Three decades later, the Carantanians were incorporated, together with the Bavarians, into the Carolingian Empire . During the same period Carniola , too, came under the Franks, and was Christianised from Aquileia . Following the anti-Frankish rebellion of Liudewit at the beginning of the 9th century, the Franks removed the Carantanian princes, replacing them with their own border dukes. Consequently,

14820-630: The rule of the neighboring states—Italy, Austria, and Hungary—were subjected to assimilation . Slovenia was the only present-day European nation that was trisected and completely annexed into both Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy during World War II. In addition, the Prekmurje region in the east was annexed to Hungary, and some villages in the Lower Sava Valley were incorporated in the newly created Nazi puppet Independent State of Croatia (NDH). Axis forces invaded Yugoslavia in April 1941 and defeated

14950-670: The same time being part of the open-border Common Travel Area with the United Kingdom (a former EU member that had held a similar opt-out) and the Crown Dependencies . The remaining EU member state – Cyprus – is committed by its Treaties of Accession to join the Schengen Area eventually. However, before fully implementing the Schengen rules, the state must have its preparedness assessed in four areas: air borders , visas , police cooperation, and personal data protection . This evaluation process involves

15080-629: The same time, the ethnic Germans in the Gottschee enclave in the Italian annexation zone were resettled to the Nazi-controlled areas cleansed of their Slovene population. Around 30,000 to 40,000 Slovene men were drafted to the German Army and sent to the Eastern front. Slovene was banned from education, and its use in public life was limited. In south-central Slovenia, annexed by Fascist Italy and renamed

15210-466: The south and southeast, and a short coastline within the Adriatic Sea to the southwest, which is part of the Mediterranean sea . Slovenia is mostly mountainous and forested, covers 20,271 square kilometres (7,827 sq mi), and has a population of approximately 2.1 million. Slovene is the official language. Slovenia has a predominantly temperate continental climate , with the exception of

15340-518: The southern part of the duchies of Carinthia and Styria , the northern and eastern areas of the Austrian Littoral , as well as Prekmurje in the Kingdom of Hungary . Industrialization was accompanied by construction of railroads to link cities and markets, but the urbanization was limited. Due to limited opportunities, between 1880 and 1910 there was extensive emigration; around 300,000 Slovenes (1 in 6) emigrated to other countries, mostly to

15470-546: The states associate members of the Schengen Agreement . As of June 2024, the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports that Andorra has a de facto open border with Spain and France. Liechtenstein is landlocked and does not have an international airport. It has been a member of the Schengen Area since 2011. It does not have a border check at Balzers heliport, as flights to and from Balzers must be to or from

15600-490: The then ten EEC member states. These five countries entered into Schengen Agreement separately from the European Communities , because consensus could not be reached among all EEC member states. The Agreement was supplemented in 1990 by the Schengen Convention, which proposed the abolition of internal border controls and a common visa policy. The Agreements and the rules adopted under them continued to be separate from

15730-587: The twelve Battles of the Isonzo , which took place in present-day Slovenia's western border area with Italy. Hundreds of thousands of Slovene conscripts were drafted into the Austro-Hungarian Army , and over 30,000 of them died. Hundreds of thousands of Slovenes from Princely County of Gorizia and Gradisca were resettled in refugee camps in Italy and Austria. While the refugees in Austria received decent treatment,

15860-577: The two countries can become part of the Schengen Area and stop systematic border checks with neighbouring EU countries must be taken unanimously by all sides of the European Council ." On 11 December 2018, the European Parliament voted for the resolution in favour of accepting both countries, requiring the Council of the European Union to "act swiftly" on the matter. On 3 March 2022, Romanian MEP Eugen Tomac officially requested an answer through

15990-503: The two countries fulfilled all technical accession criteria. Bulgaria's and Romania's bids to join the Schengen Area were approved by the European Parliament in June 2011 but rejected by the Council of Ministers in September 2011, with the Dutch and Finnish governments citing concerns about shortcomings in anti-corruption measures and in the fight against organised crime. Although the original plan

16120-814: The unrestricted mobility of persons, the negotiations will also seek to address maximised and unrestricted mobility of goods between Gibraltar and the European Union, and consider matters related to the environment, the level playing field, social security coordination, citizens’ rights, data, and matters related to continued document recognition. On 6 October 2021, the EU agreed to open formal negotiations with UK anticipating an agreement on Gibraltar, and negotiations started soon after. They were ongoing as of February 2022; hopes were they would finish during spring 2022. As of December 2022 , negotiations were continuing, but appeared to be deadlocked over policing of passport control at Gibraltar airport. Notes There are territories of Schengen member states that are exempted from

16250-562: The westward departure of the Lombards (the last Germanic tribe) in 568, and, under pressure from Avars , established a Slavic settlement in the Eastern Alps . From 623 to 624 or possibly 626 onwards, King Samo united the Alpine and Western Slavs against the Avars and Germanic peoples and established what is referred to as Samo's Kingdom. After its disintegration following Samo's death in 658 or 659,

16380-481: Was for the Schengen Area to open its air and sea borders with Bulgaria and Romania by March 2012, and its land borders by July 2012, continued opposition from Germany, Finland and the Netherlands has delayed the two countries' entry to the Schengen Area. On 4 October 2017, the European Parliament voted for access of Bulgaria and Romania to the Schengen Information System , on which they gained full access on 1 August 2018. Moreover, "the final political decision whether

16510-505: Was liberated by the partisan resistance and soon became a socialist federation known as the People's Federal Republic of Yugoslavia . The first Slovenian republic , named Federal Slovenia , was a constituent republic of the Yugoslavian federation, led by its own pro-Communist leadership. Approximately 8% of the Slovene population died during World War II . The small Jewish community, mostly in

16640-491: Was occupied by troops of the newly emerged Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (Yugoslavia) on 1 December 1918. An armed revolt against the occupation forces, led by Johann Mickl , in order to affiliate the town with German-Austria failed. Nevertheless, by resolution of the 1919 Treaty of Saint-Germain , the area north of the Mur passed to the First Austrian Republic , while Oberradkersburg (Gornja Radgona) and

16770-417: Was recorded in 1952 at 146 cm (57 in). Schengen Area The Schengen Area ( English: / ˈ ʃ ɛ ŋ ən / SHENG -ən , Luxembourgish: [ˈʃæŋən] ) is an area encompassing 29 European countries that have officially abolished border controls at their mutual borders. Being an element within the wider area of freedom, security and justice policy of

16900-512: Was strongly industrialized. With further economic decentralization of Yugoslavia in 1965–66, Slovenia's domestic product was 2.5 times the average of Yugoslav republics. While a Communist country, after the Tito–Stalin split Yugoslavia initiated a period of military neutrality and non-alignment. JAT Yugoslav Airlines was the flag carrier and during its existence it grew to become one of the leading airlines in Europe both by fleet and destinations. By

#710289