All the assumptions underpinning the stress tests cannot be disclosed since they are subject to daily negotiations and talks, Jazbec told TV Slovenija as he arrived from the rate-setting meeting of the European Central Bank (ECB).

Facing pressure from the economists, the central bank yesterday provided a lengthy explanation of the stress tests but kept secret the numerical assumptions on which the tests are based.

The economists fear the assumptions used to measure the size of economic contraction that banks could hypothetically withstand may be too rigorous.

However, Jazbec said ECB president Mario Draghi assured him today that the methodology was the same that used in eurozone-wide stress tests that are set to start in November.