Previous articles have studied the interest and the potential of the ECo-C in some other European markets. This article inscribes itself in that particular tradition, examining the interest and challenges that the certificate would need to meet to take root in Slovenia.

Although Slovenia is also one of the EU’s newer member-states, it finds itself in a very particular set of circumstances; the issues faced by its labour market are very different from the ones that the Polish and Romanian markets face. Although it also suffers from a quickly aging population, the Slovenian market is widely said to reflect the state of the Slovenian economy. What that means is actually debatable.

On the one hand, relevant government statistics suggest that the market will continue to expand, and that unemployment will remain low, with the exception of people aged over 55. The latter are said to be suffering from a shift in professional standards and qualifications, which reputedly poses problem when it comes to recognising qualifications, particularly for professionals who, in their day, could not graduate from university. The above can be summarized in a single sentence, a sentence which also headlined the recently published OECD report on said market: „strong growth but labour shortage“. In addition, some OECD papers published in 2009 point out the issues caused by early retirements.

On the other hand, however, recent revelations in the Slovenian news suggest that budgetary data issued by the government has been off by close to 20%. If true, this would probably mean that the situation is much more problematic than previously thought, particularly for the labour market, employees and employers alike.

Although Slovenia has managed a significant structural shift, turning it into one of the EU’s healthiest new member states, this shallow perusal suggests that much remains to be done; many contradictions must still be resolved, including the question mark over what the real data actually looks like. The issue of early retirement and the issues faced by the 55+ age group suggests that the labour market is in essence shorn of that segment of the population which is the most experienced, particularly with respects to social and communication skills, which has seen and sailed through crisis in the past and without which the transition to an open-market economy would never have happened. Furthermore, recent reform has led to lower job security and a new set of social safety nets; this would imply a need for more workers who are able to function in a cloudy context. The uncertainty over the economic circumstances of the country only intensifies this need.

 If the ECo-C were to take root in Slovenia, that is where it would most contribute. By providing mentoring in social skills, it would make up for the missing age groups. At the same time, in making sure that a European standard of quality becomes locally recognised, it would ensure that the Slovenian labour market has a quick, flexible outlet; or an “inlet”, as case may have it. It would put employers in a position to recognise the same skill-set in workers coming from abroad.

In these troubled times, it is often suggested that migrations should be restricted and limited; but troubled times only last as long as they are allowed, and Slovenia has, thus far, done well in guarding its prosperity. From the perspective of the European Union, the free movement of persons is another safeguard to this prosperity, in that strengthened international mobility can help remedy the internal flaws of this or that labour market, as well as balance out countries on a continent-wide basis, helping the block restore itself and prosper further.

Should Slovenia rise to face these challenges it would emerge strengthened, a model to many challenged EU member states, just as it has been a model to many of the block’s newer members in their transition.