State Secretary Humar visits Slovenians in Croatia

SLOVENIA, April 13 - "When we joined the Office for Slovenians Abroad four years ago, around EUR 340,000 was allocated to the Slovenian community in Croatia. For the 2026 call for proposals, however, we allocated just over EUR 517,000. In addition, a further EUR 42,000 was granted to associations in Croatia representing the Slovenian diaspora. We have made a concerted effort to increase the financial resources available to the community in Croatia as much as possible, because we recognise that the associations operating here require additional support," emphasised State Secretary Vesna Humar. 

Representatives of the Slovenian organisations showcased their work, events, and activities, and expressed gratitude to the Republic of Slovenia and the Office for their ongoing support and funding. The President of the Union of Slovenian Associations in Croatia expressed gratitude that the umbrella organisation of Slovenians in Croatia finally acquired its own premises in the Croatian capital last year, after many years of operation, thanks to financial aid from the Office. Many societies run their own choirs and are involved in literary activities, art, and film. They emphasised that they had been trying to attract young people to their activities for some time, and stressed the paramount importance of teaching the Slovenian language. 

Representatives from the following organisations attended the meeting: the Slovenski dom Cultural and Educational Society (Zagreb), the Bazovica Cultural and Educational Society (Rijeka), the Istra Slovenian Cultural Society (Pula), the Snežnik Slovenian Cultural and Educational Society (Lovran), the Labin Association of Slovenians, the Stanko Vraz Slovenian Cultural Society (Osijek), the Lipa Slovenian Cultural Society (Buzet), the Oljka Slovenian Cultural Society (Poreč), the Gorski kotar Slovenian Cultural Society (Tršće), the Ajda Slovenian Cultural Society (Umag), the Prešeren Slovenian Cultural Society (Lokve), the Rast Business Association, and the Union of Slovenian Associations in Croatia (Zagreb).

In the first part of the meeting, those gathered were addressed by Primorje-Gorski Kotar County Prefect Ivica Lukanović, Rijeka Mayor Iva Rinčić, the University of Rijeka Professor Rector, Professor Goran Hauser, PhD., and the host institution's Headteacher, Dina Linić Učur of the First Sušak Croatian Grammar School in Rijeka. This was followed by a cultural programme featuring performances by the recitation group Reci from the Slovenski dom KPD Bazovica, as well as by pupils of classical ballet.