Slovenia's responsibility for Slovene ethnic minorities living in cross-border regions (neighbouring countries) and for Slovenes living across the world (emigrants) is set out in Article 5 of the Constitution of the Republic of Slovenia, adopted in 1991. For the realisation of these constitutional obligations the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has set up the Office of the Republic of Slovenia for the Slovenes Abroad.
The Office coordinates the financial aid which the Republic of Slovenia, in accordance with constitutional provisions, allocates for the operation of Slovene ethnic minority organisations and institutions in the neighbouring countries. In addition, the Office is responsible for maintaining regular contact with representatives of Slovene ethnic minorities and ethnic minority organisations based in these countries. Part of the responsibility for cooperation with Slovene ethnic minorities living in the neighbouring countries as well as for financial aid (as a rule allocated via concrete projects) in specific areas also lies with the Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Science and Technology, and the Ministry of Education and Sport.
The National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia has formed a special commission, which monitors the situation of Slovenes living in cross-border areas and elsewhere in the world, and which develops contacts with the Slovenes living abroad. The issue of Slovenes abroad is also dealt with by the Committee of the National Assembly for Foreign Affairs. In 1997, the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia adopted a special resolution on the status of Slovene autochthonous ethnic minorities living in the neighbouring countries (Austria, Italy, Croatia, and Hungary) and on related tasks of national and other factors in Slovenia. The resolution envisages various forms of aid for Slovene autochthonous ethnic minorities living in the neighbouring countries, in particular within the framework of development of friendly relations between neighbours and cooperation with the neighbouring countries, taking into account the specific needs and interests of the Slovene ethnic minorities and providing them with concrete aid in the cultural, language, informative, economic, and financial areas.
As for science and research, Slovenia has its own Institute for Ethnic Studies, which has conducted research on ethnic minority issues continuously for nearly 75 years. The Institute for Ethnic Studies superseded the Ethnic Minority Institute, which was founded in 1925 and initially was primarily involved in research on Slovene ethnic minorities based in the neighbouring countries and on the issue of legal protection of ethnic minorities on both the national and international levels. The Institute's activity subsequently expanded so that currently, in addition to ethnic minority studies, it covers inter-ethnic relations and ethnic studies.
IN THIS CHAPTER
Italy | Austria | Hungary
HOME
Government | Calendar of Events | Media Room | About Slovenia
Sitemap | Contact us | About us | Graphic version | Slovensko
© Government Communication Office