German-speaking community hopes for constructive cooperation
Ljubljana, 16 June - A task force for permanent dialogue with representatives of a German-speaking ethnic community in Slovenia got to work on Thursday. At the maiden meeting, the representatives said they would like to see constructive cooperation with the state in all areas that concern the community.
The meeting focused on the community's cooperation in efforts to prepare the 5th work programme under the Slovenia-Austria agreement on cooperation in culture, education and science for the period 2023-2027, the Culture Ministry said.
Led by State Secretary Marko Rusjan, the members of the ministry's working group first took note of the brief chronology of the origins and key points of the agreement and discussed the progress made so far in coordinating the work programme.
The community's representatives were interested in the possibility of including their proposals in the work programme, and during the discussion that followed they underlined their wishes in the areas of open calls and education, the ministry's press release reads.
At the next meeting, which is due to be held in November, the working group will get acquainted with the adopted work programme stemming from the agreement.
Established in late May, the working group is comprised of representatives of the community and officials from the culture, foreign and education ministries and the Government Office for National Minorities.
Its aim is to address topics within the remit of the ministries, including language and culture, in order to preserve and further promote linguistic and cultural diversity.