A seven-year transitional period is divided in "2 plus 3 plus 2" formula and applies only to the free movement of workers between Slovenia and 15 old EU Member States, namely: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
 
In the negotiating positions, Slovenia follows the principle of reciprocity. This means that during the seven-year transitional period, Slovenia can apply equivalent measures regarding the free movement of workers to every EU Member State applying national measures on the free movement of workers. Following the first two years of the EU membership, precisely on 25 May 2006, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia decided to abolish the reciprocity and implement free movement of workers – EU and EEA nationals. This Government decision was influenced mainly by two facts: first, the abolishment of reciprocity would not impair the Slovenian labour market and, second, this decision would substantiate Slovenia’s efforts already taken to implement the free movement of persons within the EU Member States.
 
After 1 May 2004, the free movement of persons between the new EU Member States started to apply, giving the possibility to introduce a protective clause in respect of any new Member State (during the seven-years period) immediately after the full EU membership should any of the old Member States enforce national legislation with respect to any new Member State.

In December 2006, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia adopted a decision not to enforce transitional measures in the field of free movement of workers in respect of Romania and Bulgaria and had, thus, eased the access to its labour market for nationals of the two mentioned countries.