Opinion on the Proposal for a Declaration on the Preservation and Strengthening of the Autochthonous Slovenian Minority in Austria

It notes that the goals pursued by the declaration are consistent with the efforts of the Slovenian national minority in Austria, as well as with the positions that Slovenia has consistently advocated in its political dialogue with Austria and highlighted in multilateral forums where issues of the status and rights of national minorities are discussed.

The declaration has been adopted at a symbolically important time, marking the 70th anniversary of the signing of the State Treaty for the re-establishment of an independent and democratic Austria and the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.

The Government of the Republic of Slovenia systematically supports Slovenians living in the Austrian regions of Carinthia and Styria and, in the framework of bilateral talks, consistently draws attention to the importance of respecting the rights of its minority living there. Support for autochthonous Slovenian national minorities in neighbouring countries is enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of Slovenia and other legislative acts.

The Office of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia for Slovenians Abroad, together with relevant line ministries, supports projects and programmes of the Slovenian national community in the Republic of Austria in the fields of education, culture, economy, agriculture and sports. In addition, it enables investments in the construction and renovation of infrastructure facilities for minority pre-school education and in Slovenian cultural centres. In the last three years, the Office has allocated more than EUR 8,700,000 for the preservation, operation and development of the Slovenian national community in the Republic of Austria and for the strengthening of its common cultural, scientific research, educational, sports and economic activities.

The preservation and strengthening of the Slovenian identity in the common Slovenian cultural area remain one the Republic of Slovenia’s key tasks and constitute a permanent, inseparable and essential part of its foreign policy.

The adoption of the declaration was met with a positive response from all umbrella organisations of the Slovenian ethnic community in Austria, who see it as an expression of support from the Republic of Slovenia for their efforts to assert their minority rights.

Source: Office of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia for Slovenians Abroad