STA, 16 December 2018 - The government should be more resolute in demanding from Slovenia's neighbours to meet their obligations to the Slovenian ethnic minority, the chair of the parliamentary Commission for Slovenians Abroad, Ljudmila Novak, has told the STA.

Unlike when she was minister without portfolio for Slovenians abroad between February 2012 and March 2013, Novak said she can now only bring certain issues to the government's attention and call for action, but there is little leverage to influence how issues are actually addressed.

Although she would overhaul legislation governing the country's policies on Slovenians abroad, she believes Slovenia should more decisively demand from Austria, Croatia, Hungary and Italy to consistently respect minority protection legislation.

She therefore expects that when meeting counterparts from neighbouring countries, the foreign minister and prime minister will intensively promote minority topics.

"The commission's task is to demand from the government to bring minority issues to the attention of interlocutors in neighbouring countries."

Novak, a member of the opposition New Slovenia (NSi), believes Foreign Minister Miro Cerar should have also used his recent visit to Rome to discuss specific issues.

She pointed to the need to change Italy's electoral legislation to facilitate the election of a Slovenian minority deputy to both chambers of parliament.

She also believes "it would only be fair" that Slovenians in the neighbouring countries were guaranteed a representative in parliament in the same way as is the case with the Italian and Hungarian minorities in Slovenia - both are guaranteed an MP in the lower chamber of parliament.

Another issue is Slovenian minority media, which are faced with the abolition of subsidies in Italy and a severe lack of funds in Austria.

Nevertheless, Novak said some progress had been made since she was minister for Slovenians abroad, especially in Austria and Hungary.

She would also like the Government Office for Slovenians Abroad to set up a task force to coordinate activities of all ministries which deal with Slovenians living in neighbouring countries.

Novak is aware the Office, with which her commission cooperates well, always has too little funds at its disposal and most of them are earmarked for the minorities in the four neighbours, so she believes funds should be increased.

She would like Slovenians in Austria, Croatia, Hungary and Italy to preserve their Slovenian identity, culture and language.

But she also wishes for Slovenia to have "good relations" with Slovenians living elsewhere in the world, so cross-border cooperation should be strengthened.

In Novak's view, the know-how and experiences of successful Slovenians living abroad is not appreciated well enough in Slovenia.

Young, well educated people leaving is a problem in the absence of brain circulation, so it is important to keep in touch with them and try to facilitate their return.

Slovenia should let them know that their expertise is appreciated in their homeland. "We need a positive attitude on both sides, also on the part of Slovenia."

The Office of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia for Slovenians Abroad (Urad Vlade Republike Slovenije za Slovence v zamejstvu in po svetu) can be found here