Slovenia would finance the operation by borrowing in euros, a much more favourable option at the moment considering the dollar is rising, the head of the ministry's treasury directorate, Marjan Divjak, said.

Speaking at the opening part of the Central & Eastern European Forum in Vienna, Divjak said the operation would have to be conducted so as to minimize the impact on the yield in the dollar and euro markets.

Divjak said that Slovenia was in good relationships with investors in the dollar market, but the borrowing conditions in the euro market were now much more favourable.

Slovenia borrowed US$3.5bn through a dual tranche US dollar bond issue in February 2014, after issuing nearly US$6bn worth of bonds in the dollar market in May 2013 and October 2012 amid speculation of a bailout.