UPDATE 1-EU court should not intervene in Croatia/Slovenia border dispute - adviser

An adviser at the EU Court of Justice agreed with Croatia on Wednesday that settling the border between Slovenia and Croatia was not a matter on which EU courts should rule.

Slovenia had argued that, by not implementing an arbitration tribunal's determination in 2017 of the land and sea border between Croatia and Slovenia, Croatia was violating EU law and could be sued under EU law. "Determining that boundary is, by its very nature, a matter of public international law in respect of which the court does not have jurisdiction," Advocate General Priit Pikamae said in his non-binding opinion on Wednesday.

Slovenian Foreign Minister Miro Cerar told a news conference later on Wednesday that he believed the court would not follow the adviser's guidance, adding the opinion and consequent court decision "has no influence on the validity of the arbitration ruling" regarding the border. Slovenian Prime Minister Marjan Sarec told reporters Slovenia remains adamant that the arbitration ruling on the borderline between the two states has to be implemented.

The court itself will likely rule in two to four months on the matter. It typically follows the opinions of its advocate generals.