Parliament Speaker Janko Veber said the 82:0 vote reflected the conviction that Croatia's EU accession is crucial for both countries, which share a rich history.

Veber expressed the wish that Croatia's EU entry will lead to "stronger representation of the region" in the EU.

Similarly, deputy group leaders highlighted the shared history absent of major rifts, and the benefits of Croatia's EM membership.

The vote came less than a month after the two countries reached a landmark agreement resolving a Yugoslav-era bank dispute, removing what was the final obstacle on Croatia's path to the EU.

Slovenia is among the last EU members to ratify Croatia's EU accession as ratification processes have already been completed in all EU countries bar Belgium, Denmark, Germany and Netherlands.

Croatian Prime Minister Zoran Milanović and Foreign Minister Vesna Pusić were on hand for the occasion.

In a joint statement after the vote, Milanović and Prime Minister Alenka Bratušek highlighted the significance of the vote.

This is an "important and special day", evidence that Slovenia takes the European policy of coexistence as its own, Bratušek said.

Croatia's EU entry will enhance trade. "Slovenia is convinced that EU enlargement brings stability, democracy and economic success," she said.

Milanović also stressed the two countries' interdependence, noting that "almost nothing separates us any longer".

"I see no closer cooperation in the future than cooperation with Slovenia," he said.

Both Milanović and Bratušek thanked all officials who participated in the resolution of the dispute, in particular former Slovenian PM Janez Janša for his role in the resolution of the bank dispute.