EU policies can greatly impact local development in less developed areas like Slovenia. Various EU funds and programs, such as structural funds and the European Social Fund, play a key role in supporting regional development. Slovenia has been eligible for EU funds up to 2006, but it is uncertain if it will continue to be eligible in the future due to its higher GDP per capita compared to the EU average. This could have implications for the north-eastern parts of Slovenia and their cross-border areas with Hungary and possibly Croatia.