Slovenia was a strong economic engine inside Yugoslavia. Foto: EPA
Slovenia was a strong economic engine inside Yugoslavia. Foto: EPA

Even though Slovenes were only one-thirteenth of the total population, the republic was responsible for one-fifth of its GDP and a full third of its exports. This, in part, fueled the desire for independence from Yugoslavia, which finally came in 1991. After an initial shock, Slovenia would go on to become the first new EU member to adopt the euro, and now trades primarily with EU member states.