Minister Fajon thanked the Slovenian national community representatives for maintaining regular and dynamic dialogue. “Slovenia will continue to support all efforts of the Slovenian national community in Austria at all levels towards the long-term and systemic regulation of minority rights on the basis of Article 7 of the Austrian State Treaty. In this context, the dialogue with Austria and the unity of the Slovenian national community is crucial,” said Minister Fajon. “Austria should also ensure that the Slovene language is used at all levels of education, in judicial proceedings and in public use, for which we will make special efforts,” added the Minister.

President of the Community of Carinthian Slovenes Bernard Sadovnik pointed out that on her first day in office, Minister Fajon had contacted all organisations of Slovenians living abroad: “With this gesture, she clearly demonstrated Slovenia’s wish to strengthen the common Slovenian cultural and economic space in the European spirit.”

Representatives of the Slovenian national community in Austria briefed the Minister on the progress of the reform of the bilingual judiciary in Austria and on the legal changes aimed at ensuring pre-school education in the Slovene language. Among the topics discussed was the continued existence of the Slovene studies programme at the Alps-Adriatic University in Klagenfurt, as well as at the universities in Graz and Vienna.