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The past years have shown that Slovenia and Croatia can take brave decisions even in the most difficult of times and strive to implement them for the benefit of both nations, she said in a message made public late on Sunday.

This was a reference to the agreement to submit the long-lasting border dispute to international arbitration, and the recent deal on Yugoslav-era bank deposits, steps that Bratušek said had "done away with disputes and discords in the best way possible".

The prime minister said now was the time for both countries to focus on future cooperation in the EU, including in advocating a further expansion of the bloc in the Balkans.

"It is our shared interest for countries of the region to enter the negotiating process as soon as possible so that borders in the Balkans will no longer be necessary," she said, labelling Croatia a "strong ally" in the promotion of the EU aspirations of Western Balkans countries.