The Council of Europe has proposed that Slovenia recognize Croatian as a national minority language, alongside German and Serbian, which are traditionally spoken in the country. The Committee of Experts on the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages emphasized the need for Slovenian society to increase awareness of these languages, their history, and culture as integral parts of Slovenia’s cultural heritage. It also acknowledged the efforts of Slovenian authorities to protect the languages spoken in the country, including Hungarian and Italian, which enjoy a relatively high level of protection with the possibility of bilingual education at all levels except university.
Political Perspectives:
Left: Left-leaning outlets emphasize the importance of minority rights and cultural diversity, highlighting the Council of Europe’s recommendation as a positive step towards protecting linguistic minorities and promoting multiculturalism in Slovenia.
Center: Centrist sources report the proposal factually, focusing on the legal and cultural implications of recognizing Croatian as a minority language, and the ongoing efforts by Slovenian authorities to protect minority languages including Hungarian and Italian.
Right: Right-leaning perspectives may express concerns about national identity and the implications of recognizing additional minority languages, possibly emphasizing the need to preserve the Slovenian language and culture while cautiously approaching the recognition of Croatian as a minority language.
