Slovenia’s Attitude Towards Slovenian Minorities in Neighbouring Countries
Slovenia’s Attitude Towards Slovenian Minorities in Neighbouring Countries

Summary/Abstract: Slovenians live as indigenous national minorities in Italy, Austria, Hungary and Croatia. When gaining independence in 1991, Slovenia promised to take special care of these minorities. The article aims to analyse how Slovenia’s attitude towards its minorities in the neighbouring countries developed over the last 23 years. Slovenian legal acts on this issue and their application in practice are presented in detail. The article deals with the constitutional basis for Slovenia’s relation with Slovenians outside the home country, the umbrella law and other regulations. Special attention is paid to the Act Regulating Relations between the Republic of Slovenia and Slovenians Abroad, which had been promised by the Constitution, but was only adopted in 2006. In addition to the content of the Act, the author presents the process of its adoption and clearly outlines the areas in which he notices issues and what can be changed. The paper concludes with clear guidelines for the changes of Slovenian policies.

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