Statement by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs on the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Austrian State Treaty

15. 5. 2025

Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs

Seventy years have passed since the signing of the Austrian State Treaty (ADP), which re-established an independent and democratic Austria. The treaty was also of fundamental importance in setting-up relations with neighbouring Slovenia. Article 7, in particular, is of major importance for Slovenia as it guarantees respect for the rights of the Slovenian minority in Austrian Carinthia and Styria.

On this occasion, the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia would like to reiterate that, as the legal successor of the ADP and protector state for its national minority, Slovenia is firmly committed to supporting the Slovenian minority and its efforts to ensure that the Republic of Austria fulfils its obligations under Article 7 of the Treaty. Even after seven decades, these obligations have still not been fully met. "We reiterate our call for the Republic of Austria to adopt the appropriate solutions to the issues identified by the Slovenian minority as their most pressing concerns as soon as possible. This applies particularly to bilingual education and the presence and use of the Slovene language in public spaces, such as courts and offices, throughout the settlement area," said Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon.

The decades-long delay in ensuring the rights of the Slovenian minority in Austria has had a profound impact on the language landscape. Slovenia supports the call by the Carinthian Slovenian umbrella organisations for the Austrian state to give special consideration to measures for preserving and revitalising the Slovene language during this Jubilee Year. Language plays a vital role in shaping and maintaining the cultural and national identity of the Slovenians living in Austria.

The Ministry agrees with the Slovenian minority representatives in Austria that the ADP is a document that strengthens their ties with the Austrian state by guaranteeing minority rights and the existence of the democratic Republic of Austria. We at the Ministry believe that this also implies a shared interest between the Slovenian minority and the German-speaking majority in Austria in respecting and fully implementing the ADP provisions. Furthermore, society as a whole has an interest in strengthening the rule of law and democracy.

We expect the Republic of Austria to step up and strengthen its efforts in all areas, in close cooperation with the Slovenian minority, in order to realise their rights fully in accordance with the ADP provisions and in compliance with the standards enshrined in international conventions on the rights and status of national minorities to which Austria is party.

Slovenia considers the Republic of Austria to be a friendly neighbour and partner. The two countries cooperate within a bilateral framework, as well as within the context of a united Europe and other international forums. We would like to congratulate Austria on its ADP anniversary and on marking the 30th anniversary of its accession to the European Union. We reaffirm our readiness to continue cooperating with Austria in all areas of mutual interest, for the benefit of citizens in both countries.