The queue for joining the European family of nations is getting longer and Croatia is likely to be the first SEE country to accede to the EU. The fact that visas are no longer required for the citizens of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia makes life and work in the region easier. Slovenia’s links with companies and individuals in the Western Balkans are valuable, particularly when orders from the EU dealt a sore blow to Slovenian exporters in 2009. A reason more to bank on knowledge of corporate culture, economic and judicial system, and command of Croatian and Serbian and boost trade and institutional links.