This book re-constructs the evolution of the border conflict between Croatia and Slovenia. The aim is to reveal the processes at work, the historical and contemporary circumstances, and the strategies and motives of the actors involved. The book highlights the roles of the European Union and of judicial third parties in the management of the conflict. Further, it considers the precedent-setting value of the Slovenian-Croatian conflict, the attempts at its resolution, and what they mean for the ongoing and prospective EU enlargement in South East Europe. Internal documents and interviews are at the heart of this process-tracing analysis, which discusses the third-party roles of the European Commission and the EU Council Presidency in 2008/2009 as a mediator-facilitator in the drafting stages of the arbitration agreement, and the judicial work of the arbitration tribunal and the EU Court of Justice. Lastly, the book offers policy recommendations on how to strengthen dispute resolution and solve current bilateral issues in the EU accession process.

Thomas Bickl, PhD, researches territorial and EU issues in the Western Balkans. His latest article "Bridge over troubled waters: The Pelješac project, China, and the implications for good-neighbourly relations and the EU" appeared in Croatian Political Science Review.  

Introduction to the Border Dispute Between Croatia and Slovenia.-  History of Territorial, Political and Violent Conflict in the Region.- Marine Spaces and Maritime Delimitation.- The Four Development Phases of the Croatia-Slovenia Border Dispute.- Analytical Framework Findings.- Policy Recommendations.- Appendices: Agreements.