This means that the government will have to guarantee funds lost by account holders outside of Slovenia, in the same way that the government did for local account holders.

Slovenian lawyers argued that each successor state of Yugoslavia was responsible for accounts within its borders and that the issue was a succession issue. The court disagreed, and in a final decision, ordered Slovenia to come up with a plan for reimbursing people who lost accounts in the Bosnian branch of Ljubljanska banka in 1991.

As much as 250 million euros were lost, and would need to be returned within a maximum of five years' time. It's estimated that, with interest, it could cost Slovenia up to half a billion euros. The Ministry of Finance is now working on the calculations.

Rudi Gabrovec, former High Representative of Slovenia for succession issues, says that Slovenia should be required to pay claims following the example of Croatian companies. Meaning: the deposits are one thing, former loans and other assets of LB in the territory of Croatia and Bosnia are another, overlooked, side of the story.

translated by M. M. (Rsi)