Ministers Zupančič and Lep Šimenko in Klagenfurt to discuss the bilingual judiciary reform

SLOVENIA, July 6 - The meeting focused on the situation of the Slovenian national community and the proposed reform of the bilingual judiciary.

Slovenia emphasises the need to strengthen the substantive functioning of the bilingual judiciary and to consistently guarantee the right to use the Slovenian language before judicial authorities. It also expects the full implementation of the provisions of Article 7 of the Austrian State Treaty, which guarantees the rights of the Slovenian national community in Austria.

Ministers Zupančič and Lep Šimenko said that, while Slovenia welcomes Austria’s efforts to modernise its judicial system, the proposed solution in its current form has not met the expectations of the Slovenian national community. Rather than representing a clear step towards true bilingualism, it has led to new issues and inequalities in certain areas.

Representatives of the Slovenian national community also called into question the procedure and timeline of drafting legislative amendments. In their view, they were informed of the proposal relatively late, which limited their ability to contribute to its further development. Minister Zupančič stressed the importance of dialogue with the Slovenian national community on issues that directly affect the exercise of their rights. He said that reforms were necessary but that they must be developed in collaboration with the community directly affected by them.

He also highlighted the symbolic importance of the timeline. The Austrian Parliament will vote on the proposed legislative amendments on 7 July, precisely 50 years after the National Minorities Act was passed. "That is why we would like to see a solution adopted that represents a real step forward in the realisation of the rights of the Slovenian national community," he said.

The two ministers drew particular attention to the absence of Klagenfurt and Villach from the proposed reform of the bilingual judiciary. According to Minister Zupančič, it is unusual that the proposal does not include either Klagenfurt or Villach, even though these are important areas for the Slovenian national community in Austrian Carinthia.

As minority umbrella organisations have pointed out, Klagenfurt is, in terms of absolute numbers, the largest Slovenian-speaking municipality in Austrian Carinthia and the cultural and administrative core of the Slovenian national community, where most minority organisations are based. "Klagenfurt is not only the cultural hub of the Slovenian community, but also its administrative centre," said Minister Zupančič. Minister Lep Šimenko added: "The fact that the Klagenfurt area is not included in the bilingual judiciary reform is unacceptable to us and goes against the intent and spirit of the Austrian State Treaty."

Ministers Zupančič and Lep Šimenko said that Slovenia will continue to strongly support the efforts of the Slovenian national community in Austria to fully and effectively exercise their rights.