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The requirements were reiterated earlier this month, when Slovenia was included unexpectedly in the agenda of a meeting of eurozone finance ministers. The mission from Brussels is expected to come to Slovenia in the second half of September.

Slovenia was urged to start tackling the excessive deficit by October and was told that quality was more important than speed when it came to transferring non-performing loans onto a bad bank.

The Commission moreover said that the country would have to do more to reduce excessive deficit, but no concrete measures were mentioned. The Commission and Slovenia did agree however to work together and review the fiscal measures prepared by the government.

As regards the transfer of bad claims onto the bad bank, Slovenia is waiting for the outcome of bank audits and stress tests. The results, which are expected to show the real extent of the problem, are a condition under which Brussels is to approve the transfer.

Slovenia was hoping to complete the transfer before the summer. According to unofficial information, Slovenia was hurrying because it wanted to issue a new batch of bonds in autumn.

The plan to send a mission from Brussels shows that the Commission is monitoring Slovenia closely. This visit is not expected to be the only one.

Slovenia will have to report about its fiscal and other measures by 22 October, according to the source. If the country fails to fulfil the Commission's requirements, Brussels can step up oversight any time. In the worst case scenario, Slovenia can get fined or urged to request financial aid.