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In the first two years after joining the EU, Slovenia initially drew some EUR 235m as part of the 2000-2006 financial perspective, which represented as much as 99.34% of all available funds.

In the following framework, Slovenia was granted considerably more - EUR 4.1bn were secured as part of the EU's budget for 2007-2013. These funds need to be drawn by the end of 2015 and by now, almost EUR 4bn have already been assigned to different programmes.

The way the EU-funding works is that the EU-backed share is initially covered by the state, which then claims the funds from Brussels. Almost 2.7bn have been paid out for EU projects so far, while the EU has confirmed some 2.5bn, according to government figures.

Projects are classified according to three operational programmes in Slovenia focussing on regional development; environment and transport infrastructure; and human resources.

Out of the three, environmental and transport infrastructure seems to be the least successful, as less than half of the funds have been secured.

Regional development funds drawing, on the other hand, has exceeded three quarters already, whereas human resources have drawn around two thirds.

So far more than 5,000 projects launched between 2007 and 2013 have been backed by the EU and every single municipality in Slovenia (there are around 210) has been granted at least one EU project by now.

EU funds have also helped create almost 34,000 jobs and supported 585 research projects, while some 65,000 citizens have got access to broadband internet.

As many as 1,900 enterprises have been granted funds from the EU and over 900 innovations and patents have been co-financed by Brussels.

In tourism, accommodation facilities have increased by more than 11,000.

Still, Slovenia ranks 12th best EU member state in drawing EU funds.

Nevertheless, the government admits it is not entirely happy with the results, so a special government office was launched on 1 March as one of the measures to improve the phasing of EU funds.

While both Ljubljana and Brussels are trying to find solutions to enable Slovenia draw the most of the funds for the 2007-2013 period, preparations for the following budgetary period when the country will be eligible to around EUR 3.2bn are already in full swing.

The government has already adopted the partnership agreement which defines 11 sets of goals which are related to the EU 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.

Shortly, an operative programme is expected to be adopted in order to define a detailed distribution of EU funds.