For a long time Slovenia was deemed to be the best pupil in the European class of the new members from the “grand enlargement” of 2004 and was the first to adopt the euro in 2007. This former possession of the Habsburg Empire became independent in 1918 within the State of Slovenians, Croats and Serbs, which in 1919 took the name of Yugoslavia, then after the fall of the Iron Curtain it proclaimed its independence in 1991 following a referendum. It experienced rapid political alternation. Its recent history has been marked by many border disputes with Croatia and especially with Italy which gave up territory to it in 1947 thanks to which it has access, albeit restricted to the sea.