Slovenia hopes Styria will abandon its anthem plans

According to observers, the issue is also putting a strain on the long-standing cooperation between Slovenia and Styria. Fajon said the next meeting of the joint committee is scheduled for the fall, "and until then we have time to see what the next steps will look like." The ÖVP-FPÖ state government wants the Dachstein Song to be written into the Styrian state constitution. The state anthem is controversial because of its 19th-century lyrics, which also celebrate the historical region of Lower Styria, which has not been part of Styria for more than a century, using the outdated term "Wends" for the Slavic population there.

The Styrian anthem plans "benefit no one," Fajon criticized. "We live in a very tense geopolitical environment and need good neighborly relations and steps that benefit both peoples." Slovenia has communicated its regrets to Austria through diplomatic channels, the Social Democratic politician emphasized. "I also discussed this with my counterpart Beate Meinl-Reisinger at a meeting on Friday, and we'll see what happens when it comes to a vote (in the state parliament)," Fajon said, emphasizing that this issue was not the most important topic of the visit.

Concrete expectations regarding ethnic groups

Fajon has a "good feeling" about the strengthening of ethnic group rights in Austria. She acknowledged the provisions of the coalition agreement between the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), the Red Party (CDU), and the Pink Party (PFP) in this regard and, with a view to the upcoming 70th anniversary of the signing of the State Treaty, which committed Austria to protecting the Slovene and Croatian ethnic groups in Article 7, expressed hope for concrete steps in the areas of justice and education. She also promised Slovenia's support in this regard, coupled with self-criticism. "We have probably missed many opportunities in the past decades, but now it seems to me the time has come for us to take a step forward," she said when asked about the funding of educational institutions outside the ethnic group's traditional settlement area, for example, in major cities like Vienna and Graz.

"I have proposed to the Austrian Foreign Minister that the new government complete the judicial reform in Carinthia – already prepared by the previous government – ​​this year, which will give all members of the Slovene minority access to the use of the Slovene language in courts throughout the settlement area," Fajon emphasized.

Did I learn about Dodik's entry ban "from the media"?

Fajon sees common ground with her Austrian counterpart on Western Balkan policy. In this regard, Meinl-Reisinger is continuing the "legacy" of her predecessor, Alexander Schallenberg, and a joint visit to a country in the region – Montenegro or Albania – is also planned. Regarding the recent suggestion by former Slovenian President Borut Pahor that the Western Balkan states should be admitted to the EU all at once, Fajon said that this would "probably solve most of the problems." However, the development levels of the six countries are so different that simultaneous EU accession is difficult to imagine. "I would be extremely happy if we succeeded in admitting at least two or three Western Balkan states to the EU by 2030." It is important to offer the region's citizens concrete steps toward integration now, for example through early participation in the EU single market.

Fajon expressed concern about the situation in Serbia. "I don't think the protests will simply stop," she called on the government in Belgrade to adopt a pro-European stance. "The ball is in Serbia's court," Fajon insisted, particularly on Serbia's need to align its foreign and defense policy with that of the European Union.

Fajon also condemned the secessionist tendencies in the Bosnian Serb republic, which she called "a major obstacle" on Bosnia-Herzegovina's path to EU membership. "We would like to see joint measures at the European Union level, because that would be the most effective," she said when asked about the recent entry bans imposed unilaterally by Germany and Austria against the President of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik. At least with Slovenia, the two states had not consulted beforehand, Fajon confirmed. "I learned about it from the media."

Slovenia wants to help Austria at the UN Security Council

Fajon is "happy" to share Slovenia's experience in the UN Security Council with her Austrian counterpart. Slovenia currently sits on the most powerful UN body, while Austria is applying for a seat starting in 2027. The Alpine republic faces strong competition from Germany and Portugal, and Fajon is also reluctant to commit. "We are always fond of our neighboring countries, but also of the Portuguese and Germans," she said in response to a question on this topic.

The non-permanent members are elected by the UN General Assembly, with the states of the global South having a comparatively large voting weight. During her travels, she has often heard criticism that Europe applies double standards when it comes to the Ukraine and Gaza conflicts. "Our partners around the world don't understand that," Fajon said. Slovenia has always adhered to the principle that international law applies equally to all. "This was also evident in our decision to recognize Palestine as a sovereign state." This decision matured during the Gaza War, "when there was no longer any hope for a lasting and just peace" and key players in the government no longer wanted to negotiate a two-state solution. The fact that the situation has continued to deteriorate since the recognition of Palestine last year confirms the correctness of the decision, Fajon said.

UN mandate for mission in Ukraine

Fajon would like a UN mandate for a peacekeeping mission in Ukraine. In this case, Slovenia would be willing to consider participating. Asked about US President Donald Trump's recent statements that the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea is Russian, she emphasized: "We do not agree to changing internationally recognized borders by force and weapons." While Ljubljana supports Washington's peace efforts, a solution must be acceptable, above all, to Ukraine. A peace is needed "that ensures that something like this (Russian aggression against Ukraine, ed.) does not happen again."

(The interview was conducted by Stefan Vospernik/APA)