Diagonal Accountability
#20Key Findings
Slovenia falls into the lower-middle ranks (rank 20) in the category of diagonal accountability.
The public broadcaster has undergone a period of turmoil after the government sought to exert control through appointments and by cancelling programs critical of the state. The center-left government has since reorganized the sector.
The media sector overall is marked by significant concentration, with owners often pursuing unclear agendas. Print media circulation and revenues are declining. Assembly rights are protected, and broad public protests help mobilize voters behind a change in government in 2022. The succeeding government has been more open to civil society proposals.
The country’s neocorporatist system includes representation for employers and employees through the tripartite Economic and Social Council. Social, economic, professional and local interests are also directly represented in the country’s second parliamentary house. Environmental groups have successfully mobilized public opinion on specific issues.
The public broadcaster has undergone a period of turmoil after the government sought to exert control through appointments and by cancelling programs critical of the state. The center-left government has since reorganized the sector.
The media sector overall is marked by significant concentration, with owners often pursuing unclear agendas. Print media circulation and revenues are declining. Assembly rights are protected, and broad public protests help mobilize voters behind a change in government in 2022. The succeeding government has been more open to civil society proposals.
The country’s neocorporatist system includes representation for employers and employees through the tripartite Economic and Social Council. Social, economic, professional and local interests are also directly represented in the country’s second parliamentary house. Environmental groups have successfully mobilized public opinion on specific issues.
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Graph View
To what extent are the media free from government influence and able to act independently?
10
9
9
There are no disincentives, by law or in practice, for the media to criticize the government and public officials.
8
7
6
7
6
Existing disincentives, by law and in practice, pose no significant obstacles to the media in criticizing the government and public officials.
5
4
3
4
3
Existing disincentives, by law and in practice, pose some significant obstacles to the media in criticizing the government and public officials.
2
1
1
Existing disincentives, by law and in practice, pose various significant obstacles to the media in criticizing the government and public officials.
During the third Janša government (2020 – 2022), the Slovenian Press Agency (STA) had a dispute with UKOM, the government’s communications office, over public service tasks and state funding. This conflict was resolved in early 2022 when Igor Kadunc took over the agency and reached an agreement with UKOM, ending a period of uncertainty for the press agency and its employees.
Meanwhile, RTV, the public television and radio broadcaster, faced turmoil with significant staff turnover and appointments favoring individuals close to Janez Janša’s administration. Critical programs and presenters were removed, and editorial changes were made due to their opposition to the government. The former UKOM director, who was responsible for withholding funding for STA, assumed the directorship of RTV in July 2022, while Ksenija Koren, a retired PR advisor in Janša’s cabinet, was appointed chief editor of the country’s nightly national news broadcastern October 2022.
Studio City, a politically critical program, was discontinued in March 2022, raising concerns about censorship ahead of elections. A petition with 40,000 signatures demanded its return, which happened in January 2024 with a new program. RTV employees went on strike in 2023 due to irregularities, violations of the journalists’ code, and management’s influence on news content. The Union of Journalists of Slovenia expressed concern about journalist overwork and burnout, particularly at RTV and newspapers.
After the elections, center-left parties proposed amendments to the law on public radio and television, aiming to reorganize the governance and supervision of RTV. Critics warned of reduced openness and transparency, citing rushed legislative procedures. In a November 2023 referendum, citizens supported the changes, resulting in the appointment of 17 members to the new RTV Council. These members were selected by various organizations and institutions, with six representing RTV Slovenia employees. Zvezdan Martić, a longtime RTV journalist, was elected chairman of the management board.
Print media has suffered from declining circulation numbers and revenues, leading to journalist layoffs. These challenges have been attributed to politically motivated ownership changes. In response to workplace violations, the Whistleblower Act was passed in October 2022 and enforced in February 2023, providing protections for whistleblowers. This legislation aligned Slovenian law with the European Directive, although the Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS) criticized it as being too broad and exceeding public interest areas.
Citations:
Kaja Jakopič. 2023. “Največja težava novinarjev v Sloveniji niso več slabe place ampak preobremenjenost (The biggest problem of journalists in Slovenia is no longer poor salaries but overwork).” MMC RTV SLO, January 4. https://www.rtvslo.si/slovenija/najvecja-tezava-novinarjev-v-sloveniji-niso-vec-slabe-place-ampak-preobremenjenost/652915
Krušič, Janez. 2023. “Kriza tiskanih medijev: ‘Sedanji lastniki večino tiskanih medijev upravljajo kot tovarne konzerv’ [Print media crisis: ‘Current owners run most print media like can factories’].” MMC RTV SLO, January 15. https://www.rtvslo.si/slovenija/kriza-tiskanih-medijev-sedanji-lastniki-vecino-tiskanih-medijev-upravljajo-kot-tovarne-konzerv/654407
Marko Milosavljevic and Romana Biljak Gerjevic. 2021. Monitoring Media Pluralism in the Digital Era: Application of the Media Pluralism Monitor in the European Union, Albania, Montenegro, the Republic of North Macedonia, Serbia and Turkey in the Year 2021. Country Report: Slovenia. European University Institute. https://cadmus.eui.eu/handle/1814/74705
Meanwhile, RTV, the public television and radio broadcaster, faced turmoil with significant staff turnover and appointments favoring individuals close to Janez Janša’s administration. Critical programs and presenters were removed, and editorial changes were made due to their opposition to the government. The former UKOM director, who was responsible for withholding funding for STA, assumed the directorship of RTV in July 2022, while Ksenija Koren, a retired PR advisor in Janša’s cabinet, was appointed chief editor of the country’s nightly national news broadcastern October 2022.
Studio City, a politically critical program, was discontinued in March 2022, raising concerns about censorship ahead of elections. A petition with 40,000 signatures demanded its return, which happened in January 2024 with a new program. RTV employees went on strike in 2023 due to irregularities, violations of the journalists’ code, and management’s influence on news content. The Union of Journalists of Slovenia expressed concern about journalist overwork and burnout, particularly at RTV and newspapers.
After the elections, center-left parties proposed amendments to the law on public radio and television, aiming to reorganize the governance and supervision of RTV. Critics warned of reduced openness and transparency, citing rushed legislative procedures. In a November 2023 referendum, citizens supported the changes, resulting in the appointment of 17 members to the new RTV Council. These members were selected by various organizations and institutions, with six representing RTV Slovenia employees. Zvezdan Martić, a longtime RTV journalist, was elected chairman of the management board.
Print media has suffered from declining circulation numbers and revenues, leading to journalist layoffs. These challenges have been attributed to politically motivated ownership changes. In response to workplace violations, the Whistleblower Act was passed in October 2022 and enforced in February 2023, providing protections for whistleblowers. This legislation aligned Slovenian law with the European Directive, although the Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS) criticized it as being too broad and exceeding public interest areas.
Citations:
Kaja Jakopič. 2023. “Največja težava novinarjev v Sloveniji niso več slabe place ampak preobremenjenost (The biggest problem of journalists in Slovenia is no longer poor salaries but overwork).” MMC RTV SLO, January 4. https://www.rtvslo.si/slovenija/najvecja-tezava-novinarjev-v-sloveniji-niso-vec-slabe-place-ampak-preobremenjenost/652915
Krušič, Janez. 2023. “Kriza tiskanih medijev: ‘Sedanji lastniki večino tiskanih medijev upravljajo kot tovarne konzerv’ [Print media crisis: ‘Current owners run most print media like can factories’].” MMC RTV SLO, January 15. https://www.rtvslo.si/slovenija/kriza-tiskanih-medijev-sedanji-lastniki-vecino-tiskanih-medijev-upravljajo-kot-tovarne-konzerv/654407
Marko Milosavljevic and Romana Biljak Gerjevic. 2021. Monitoring Media Pluralism in the Digital Era: Application of the Media Pluralism Monitor in the European Union, Albania, Montenegro, the Republic of North Macedonia, Serbia and Turkey in the Year 2021. Country Report: Slovenia. European University Institute. https://cadmus.eui.eu/handle/1814/74705
To what extent is a plurality of opinions in the media ensured?
10
9
9
There are no barriers, by law or in practice, to a pluralistic media landscape that represents all existing political perspectives in society.
8
7
6
7
6
Existing barriers, by law and in practice, pose no significant obstacles to the media in representing all relevant political perspectives in society.
5
4
3
4
3
Existing barriers, by law and in practice, pose some significant obstacles to the media in representing all relevant political perspectives in society.
2
1
1
Existing barriers, by law and in practice, pose various significant obstacles to the media in representing all relevant political perspectives in society.
Media pluralism in Slovenia is governed by the Mass Media Act, which allocates state funds to ensure pluralism, democracy, and freedom of expression. However, the small media market is marked by significant ownership concentration, often with unclear agendas favoring certain parties. Notably, outlets like Nova24TV and publications like Demokracija and Škandal24 tend to support one party (SDS) while criticizing others. Conversely, Necenzurirano.si leans toward center-left parties. Additionally, customer-friendly media are owned by Hungarian investors linked to the government, raising concerns about geopolitical influence.
The European Commission and Media Pluralism Report have highlighted challenges to media freedom, particularly in market plurality, political independence, and social inclusion. The Agency for Communications Networks and Services regulates the electronic communications market but faces criticism for not addressing ownership accumulation, leading to content homogeneity across outlets.
To address these issues, the Ministry of Culture proposed a new media law in December 2023 to enhance transparency in public funding usage, improve ownership disclosure, and bolster media pluralism. The law is slated for parliamentary discussion in April 2024.
Citations:
Simona Rogelj. 2023. “V razpravi o medijih v Sloveniji opozorila o koncentriranju lastništva in nezadostnem financiranju.” MMC RTV SLO, July 9. https://www.rtvslo.si/slovenija/v-razpravi-o-medijih-v-sloveniji-opozorila-o-koncentriranju-lastnistva-in-nezadostnem-financiranju/674571
Marko Milosavljevic and Romana Biljak Gerjevic. 2021. Monitoring Media Pluralism in the Digital Era: Application of the Media Pluralism Monitor in the European Union, Albania, Montenegro, the Republic of North Macedonia, Serbia and Turkey in the Year 2021. Country Report: Slovenia. European University Institute. https://cadmus.eui.eu/handle/1814/74705
The European Commission and Media Pluralism Report have highlighted challenges to media freedom, particularly in market plurality, political independence, and social inclusion. The Agency for Communications Networks and Services regulates the electronic communications market but faces criticism for not addressing ownership accumulation, leading to content homogeneity across outlets.
To address these issues, the Ministry of Culture proposed a new media law in December 2023 to enhance transparency in public funding usage, improve ownership disclosure, and bolster media pluralism. The law is slated for parliamentary discussion in April 2024.
Citations:
Simona Rogelj. 2023. “V razpravi o medijih v Sloveniji opozorila o koncentriranju lastništva in nezadostnem financiranju.” MMC RTV SLO, July 9. https://www.rtvslo.si/slovenija/v-razpravi-o-medijih-v-sloveniji-opozorila-o-koncentriranju-lastnistva-in-nezadostnem-financiranju/674571
Marko Milosavljevic and Romana Biljak Gerjevic. 2021. Monitoring Media Pluralism in the Digital Era: Application of the Media Pluralism Monitor in the European Union, Albania, Montenegro, the Republic of North Macedonia, Serbia and Turkey in the Year 2021. Country Report: Slovenia. European University Institute. https://cadmus.eui.eu/handle/1814/74705
Graph View
To what extent are citizens able to freely form or join independent political and civic groups, openly raise and discuss political issues, and assemble without restrictions?
10
9
9
There are no barriers, by law or in practice to creating an engaged society and civil society organizations that are free to operate.
8
7
6
7
6
Existing barriers, by law and in practice, pose very few or no significant obstacles to creating an engaged society and civil society organizations that are free to operate.
5
4
3
4
3
Existing barriers, by law and in practice, pose some significant obstacles to the creation of an engaged society and civil society organizations that are free to operate.
2
1
1
Existing barriers, by law and in practice, pose various significant obstacles to the creation of an engaged society and civil society organizations that are free to operate.
Slovenian civil society organizations are vibrant, active, and reasonably well-organized. The Slovenian constitution guarantees citizens the right to peaceful and public assembly, and everyone has the right to freely associate with others. The “Friday protesters,” who regularly gathered in city centers during the SDS government, especially in Ljubljana but also online during the lockdown, continued their protest activities into early 2022. They focused on mobilizing voters for the parliamentary elections in April 2022 and aimed to remove the government that violated civil liberties. The movement successfully mobilized voters for the center-left option, presenting it as an alternative. The last Friday protest occurred on April 22, shortly before the national elections. Following the change of government and a Constitutional Court decision, the Ministry of the Interior lifted the fines imposed on civil society during the COVID-19 lockdowns.
The government of Prime Minister Golob from the Freedom Movement party appeared more open to proposals from civil society. For example, the coalition parties supported legislative proposals from the 8 March Institute and the NGO Legal Network for the Protection of Democracy. The opposition labeled such cooperation as “Slovenia is governed by civil society.” At the same time, civil society was criticized for being too tolerant of the new government, as most of its promises to civil society remained unfulfilled. In the first year of the Golob government, the Voice of the People initiative highlighted that the government had not fulfilled 113 of the 122 promises made to civil society. The NGO CNVOS, which has been monitoring and analyzing how governments comply with the National Assembly’s Resolution on Normative Activity since 2009 – obliging them to hold a public debate of at least 30 days on each new regulation – found that all governments violate this resolution to a similar extent, namely between 60% and 80%.
There were also some other problematic events. During the traditional Pride parade on June 17 in Ljubljana, several homophobic and transphobic acts – such as insults, thefts, the burning of rainbow flags, physical attacks, and threats – were reported on social media. Additionally, President Pirc Musar was criticized for excluding one member of her Youth Advisory Council, Sara Štiglic, because of her civic activism against pro-life activists and their installation. Women’s rights groups particularly criticized the president’s decision.
Citations:
Rakar, Tatjana, and Tomaž Deželan. 2023. “The Strength of Civil Society in Slovenia After Three Decades of Post-Communist Experience.” In Handbook of Civil Society and Social Movements in Small States, eds. Lino Briguglio. Abingdon; New York: Routledge, 248-261. DOI: 10.4324/9781003341536-21.
CNVOS. 2022. “Števec kršitev, Arhiv prejšnjih vlad.” https://www.cnvos.si/nvo-vseved/stevec-krsitev/arhiv-prejsnjih-vlad/
La. Da. 2023. “Kolesarji ob prvi obletnici vlade nazdovoljni s številom izpolnjenih obljub.” https://www.rtvslo.si/slovenija/kolesarji-ob-prvi-obletnici-vlade-nezadovoljni-s-stevilom-izpolnjenih-obljub/670330
24ur.com. 2023. “Še en odstop v podporo Sari Štiglic, na njeni strani tudi Golob.” https://www.24ur.com/novice/slovenija/pirc-musarjeva-po-izkljucitvi-stigliceve-plaz-kritik-na-mojo-odlocitev-je-prekomeren.html
The government of Prime Minister Golob from the Freedom Movement party appeared more open to proposals from civil society. For example, the coalition parties supported legislative proposals from the 8 March Institute and the NGO Legal Network for the Protection of Democracy. The opposition labeled such cooperation as “Slovenia is governed by civil society.” At the same time, civil society was criticized for being too tolerant of the new government, as most of its promises to civil society remained unfulfilled. In the first year of the Golob government, the Voice of the People initiative highlighted that the government had not fulfilled 113 of the 122 promises made to civil society. The NGO CNVOS, which has been monitoring and analyzing how governments comply with the National Assembly’s Resolution on Normative Activity since 2009 – obliging them to hold a public debate of at least 30 days on each new regulation – found that all governments violate this resolution to a similar extent, namely between 60% and 80%.
There were also some other problematic events. During the traditional Pride parade on June 17 in Ljubljana, several homophobic and transphobic acts – such as insults, thefts, the burning of rainbow flags, physical attacks, and threats – were reported on social media. Additionally, President Pirc Musar was criticized for excluding one member of her Youth Advisory Council, Sara Štiglic, because of her civic activism against pro-life activists and their installation. Women’s rights groups particularly criticized the president’s decision.
Citations:
Rakar, Tatjana, and Tomaž Deželan. 2023. “The Strength of Civil Society in Slovenia After Three Decades of Post-Communist Experience.” In Handbook of Civil Society and Social Movements in Small States, eds. Lino Briguglio. Abingdon; New York: Routledge, 248-261. DOI: 10.4324/9781003341536-21.
CNVOS. 2022. “Števec kršitev, Arhiv prejšnjih vlad.” https://www.cnvos.si/nvo-vseved/stevec-krsitev/arhiv-prejsnjih-vlad/
La. Da. 2023. “Kolesarji ob prvi obletnici vlade nazdovoljni s številom izpolnjenih obljub.” https://www.rtvslo.si/slovenija/kolesarji-ob-prvi-obletnici-vlade-nezadovoljni-s-stevilom-izpolnjenih-obljub/670330
24ur.com. 2023. “Še en odstop v podporo Sari Štiglic, na njeni strani tudi Golob.” https://www.24ur.com/novice/slovenija/pirc-musarjeva-po-izkljucitvi-stigliceve-plaz-kritik-na-mojo-odlocitev-je-prekomeren.html
To what extent do civil society organizations (CSOs) have the capacity to actively participate in the co-creation of relevant policies?
10
9
9
All the major CSOs active in the field have the capacity to shape public policies.
8
7
6
7
6
Most of the major CSOs active in the field have the capacity to shape public policies.
5
4
3
4
3
Few of the major CSOs active in the field have the capacity to shape public policies.
2
1
1
None of the major CSOs active in the field have the capacity to shape public policies.
The Slovenian political system is neo-corporatist, providing representation for employers and employees in the Economic and Social Council (ESS), a tripartite body of social partners and the government of the Republic of Slovenia. The ESS addresses issues and measures related to economic and social policy and other matters specific to agreements between the partners. Representatives of employers and employees are also included in the National Council, the second house of Slovenia’s bicameral parliament, which represents social, economic, professional, and local interests. The institution consists of 40 members: four employers, four representatives of employees, and four representatives of farmers, artisans, and independent professionals. Consequently, the organizations of employers and employees are the most institutionalized, professionalized, and supported by expert staff.
Although the trade unions and employer representatives are among the strongest non-state actors, there has been a clear trend toward declining trade union membership in recent years. Trade union membership fell sharply in the first half of the 1990s, even as the number of trade unions in Slovenia increased. Additionally, associations of successful businesspeople outside the institutionalized employer framework, such as the Slovenian Business Club, are gaining public attention and expressing concerns on various issues, including those outside the business sector.
In 2023, trade unions representing various professional groups in the public sector were notably active. These groups included education professionals, police officers, customs officers, nurses, judicial officials, local government employees, professional firefighters, the army, bus drivers, and more. Many of these unions have threatened or carried out strikes and other protests throughout the year.
The government is currently advocating for joint negotiations with all trade unions as part of the wage system reform. On January 15, 2024, the doctors’ union began a general strike, which will continue until a strike agreement is reached or lifted. However, a resolution is not yet in sight. Consequently, work in the public healthcare system is restricted, increasing pressure on the government, even though the majority of the public and civil society do not support the doctors’ strike.
Citations:
E-uprava: Državni svet- sestava, področje delovanja in pristojnosti. https://e-uprava.gov.si/drzava-in-druzba/e-demokracija/o-demokraticnih-procesih/drzavna-ureditev/drzavni-svet-sestava-podrocje-delovanja-in-pristojnosti.html
Živa Broder. 2016. Sindikalno gibanje v Sloveniji od osamosvojitve do danes. Ljubljana: Fakulteta za družbene vede. http://dk.fdv.uni-lj.si/magistrska/pdfs/mag_broder-ziva.pdf
Rakar, Tatjana, and Tomaž Deželan. 2023. “The Strength of Civil Society in Slovenia after Three Decades of Post-Communist Experience.” In Handbook of Civil Society and Social Movements in Small States, eds. Lino Briguglio. Abingdon; New York: Routledge, 248-261. DOI: 10.4324/9781003341536-21.
SBC. 2024. “Imamo državo ugrabljeno s strani drugorazrednih uradnikov.” Available at https://www.sbc.si/novice/2024/01/imamo-drzavo-ugrabljeno-s-strani-drugorazrednih-uradnikov
Although the trade unions and employer representatives are among the strongest non-state actors, there has been a clear trend toward declining trade union membership in recent years. Trade union membership fell sharply in the first half of the 1990s, even as the number of trade unions in Slovenia increased. Additionally, associations of successful businesspeople outside the institutionalized employer framework, such as the Slovenian Business Club, are gaining public attention and expressing concerns on various issues, including those outside the business sector.
In 2023, trade unions representing various professional groups in the public sector were notably active. These groups included education professionals, police officers, customs officers, nurses, judicial officials, local government employees, professional firefighters, the army, bus drivers, and more. Many of these unions have threatened or carried out strikes and other protests throughout the year.
The government is currently advocating for joint negotiations with all trade unions as part of the wage system reform. On January 15, 2024, the doctors’ union began a general strike, which will continue until a strike agreement is reached or lifted. However, a resolution is not yet in sight. Consequently, work in the public healthcare system is restricted, increasing pressure on the government, even though the majority of the public and civil society do not support the doctors’ strike.
Citations:
E-uprava: Državni svet- sestava, področje delovanja in pristojnosti. https://e-uprava.gov.si/drzava-in-druzba/e-demokracija/o-demokraticnih-procesih/drzavna-ureditev/drzavni-svet-sestava-podrocje-delovanja-in-pristojnosti.html
Živa Broder. 2016. Sindikalno gibanje v Sloveniji od osamosvojitve do danes. Ljubljana: Fakulteta za družbene vede. http://dk.fdv.uni-lj.si/magistrska/pdfs/mag_broder-ziva.pdf
Rakar, Tatjana, and Tomaž Deželan. 2023. “The Strength of Civil Society in Slovenia after Three Decades of Post-Communist Experience.” In Handbook of Civil Society and Social Movements in Small States, eds. Lino Briguglio. Abingdon; New York: Routledge, 248-261. DOI: 10.4324/9781003341536-21.
SBC. 2024. “Imamo državo ugrabljeno s strani drugorazrednih uradnikov.” Available at https://www.sbc.si/novice/2024/01/imamo-drzavo-ugrabljeno-s-strani-drugorazrednih-uradnikov
To what extent do civil society organizations (CSOs) have the capacity to actively participate in the co-creation of relevant policies?
10
9
9
All the major CSOs active in the field have the capacity to shape public policies.
8
7
6
7
6
Most of the major CSOs active in the field have the capacity to shape public policies.
5
4
3
4
3
Few of the major CSOs active in the field have the capacity to shape public policies.
2
1
1
None of the major CSOs active in the field have the capacity to shape public policies.
Slovenia’s Vibrant civil society sector comprising a diverse array of associations. However, it relies primarily on voluntary work and suffers from low levels of professionalization and limited resources. Just over 12,000 people are employed in the non-governmental sector, with more than half of these workers employed in institutes (zavodi), despite institutes making up only 13% of all non-governmental organizations.
In 2021, associations (društva), the most numerous type of non-governmental organization due to the prevalence of local firemen associations, employed 5,178 people. The share of employees in non-governmental organizations was a mere 1.24%, which is extremely low compared to other countries. A 2017 study by Johns Hopkins University found the global average to be 3.3% and the EU average to be 3.67%.
Volunteer work offsets the low level of professionalization. Volunteering has a long and rich tradition in Slovenia, connecting people at both local and national levels. In 2022, the total number of volunteers in voluntary organizations increased. That year, 2,341 volunteer organizations submitted reports on volunteering, with 226,106 volunteers contributing 9,245,305 hours. Most volunteer hours were dedicated to social welfare.
Some traditional civil society organizations active in the welfare field have a long history and a strong local network. Although their work relies heavily on volunteers, the largest organizations also have professional leadership. These include Karitas Slovenia (founded in 1990), the Red Cross (1944), the Slovenian Association of Friends of Youth (1953), Slovenian Philanthropy (1992), and the Slovenian Association of Pensioners’ Associations (1946). Given the tradition of a strong welfare state, the reduction of state services, and decreased budgets for social services, the demand for the services provided by civil society organizations has increased, especially during economic and financial crises.
Citations:
CNVOS. 2023. “Delež zaposlenih v NVO glede na aktivno prebivalstvo.” https://www.cnvos.si/nvo-sektor-dejstva-stevilke/delez-zaposlenih-v-nvo-glede-na-aktivno-prebivalstvo/
Slovenska Filantropija. 2024. “Prostovoljstvo danes.” https://www.prostovoljstvo.org/prostovoljstvo-danes
Rakar, Tatjana, and Deželan, Tomaž. 2023. “The strength of civil society in Slovenia after three decades of post-communist experience.” In Handbook of Civil Society and Social Movements in Small States, eds. Lino Briguglio. Abingdon; New York: Routledge, 248-261.
In 2021, associations (društva), the most numerous type of non-governmental organization due to the prevalence of local firemen associations, employed 5,178 people. The share of employees in non-governmental organizations was a mere 1.24%, which is extremely low compared to other countries. A 2017 study by Johns Hopkins University found the global average to be 3.3% and the EU average to be 3.67%.
Volunteer work offsets the low level of professionalization. Volunteering has a long and rich tradition in Slovenia, connecting people at both local and national levels. In 2022, the total number of volunteers in voluntary organizations increased. That year, 2,341 volunteer organizations submitted reports on volunteering, with 226,106 volunteers contributing 9,245,305 hours. Most volunteer hours were dedicated to social welfare.
Some traditional civil society organizations active in the welfare field have a long history and a strong local network. Although their work relies heavily on volunteers, the largest organizations also have professional leadership. These include Karitas Slovenia (founded in 1990), the Red Cross (1944), the Slovenian Association of Friends of Youth (1953), Slovenian Philanthropy (1992), and the Slovenian Association of Pensioners’ Associations (1946). Given the tradition of a strong welfare state, the reduction of state services, and decreased budgets for social services, the demand for the services provided by civil society organizations has increased, especially during economic and financial crises.
Citations:
CNVOS. 2023. “Delež zaposlenih v NVO glede na aktivno prebivalstvo.” https://www.cnvos.si/nvo-sektor-dejstva-stevilke/delez-zaposlenih-v-nvo-glede-na-aktivno-prebivalstvo/
Slovenska Filantropija. 2024. “Prostovoljstvo danes.” https://www.prostovoljstvo.org/prostovoljstvo-danes
Rakar, Tatjana, and Deželan, Tomaž. 2023. “The strength of civil society in Slovenia after three decades of post-communist experience.” In Handbook of Civil Society and Social Movements in Small States, eds. Lino Briguglio. Abingdon; New York: Routledge, 248-261.
To what extent do civil society organizations (CSOs) have the capacity to actively participate in the co-creation of relevant policies?
10
9
9
All the major CSOs active in the field have the capacity to shape public policies.
8
7
6
7
6
Most of the major CSOs active in the field have the capacity to shape public policies.
5
4
3
4
3
Few of the major CSOs active in the field have the capacity to shape public policies.
2
1
1
None of the major CSOs active in the field have the capacity to shape public policies.
Several civil society organizations are active in the environmental sector. These organizations are fragmented, each covering different areas of environmental protection, and are often small with few members. Organizations that operate in the public interest can register with the relevant ministry. This status provides better opportunities to receive state funding. Currently, 44 organizations are registered with the Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning. These organizations are important actors in environmental protection.
In addition to purely national environmental organizations, there are also national sections of international environmental organizations in Slovenia, such as Green Peace Slovenia. Some national environmental organizations are also well-networked regionally. Alpe Adria Green, which aims for regional integration to solve common ecological problems, has managed to connect all the countries of the former Yugoslavia, Italy, and Slovenia. Balkan River Defense is an organization that campaigns for clean rivers in the Balkans. Other environmental organizations form joint advocacy coalitions, such as Plan B for Slovenia, which has brought together 38 organizations active in sustainable development over the last ten years.
The activities of environmental organizations and other progressive civil society groups gained significant public attention during the so-called “referendum on waters,” when the then-government of Prime Minister Janša (SDS) attempted to liberalize legislation to reduce environmental protections. This would have allowed for increased economic activity, particularly construction projects in protected coastal and river areas.
Environmental organizations were also active in 2023, along with local citizen initiatives addressing specific problems. In March 2023, Youth for Climate Justice organized climate protests in Ljubljana and Maribor, urging authorities to take action against the environmental crisis. The construction of a CO2 sewer in the area of the Ljubljana aquifer sparked several protests. The project, taking place without the appropriate permits, could contaminate drinking water in the event of an accident or earthquake, as the sewer is located in the central part of the Kleče water protection area.
The 8th of March Institute, Eko Anhovo and Dolina Soče associations, and the Danes citizens’ initiative submitted more than 6,000 certified signatures to the National Assembly in September 2023 to propose an amendment to the Environmental Protection Act. This initiative arose primarily due to industrial pollution in Anhovo, where residents suffer from significant health problems and premature deaths. One of the aims of the proposed amendment was to ensure that emission standards for waste incineration are the same as those for co-incineration. The amendment made this possible, eliminating the previous disparity where cement plants faced less stringent requirements than incineration plants. The law was passed in 2024.
Citations:
Civicus/European Civic Monitor 2022. “Country Update: Slovenia. Overview of Recent Restrictions to Civic Freedoms.” https://civicus.org/documents/SloveniaCountryBrief.6April2022.pdf
AJPES 2024: Evidenca nevladnih organizacij v javnem interesu. https://www.ajpes.si/Registri/Drugi_registri/Evidenca_nevladnih_organizacij/Splosno
Plan B za Slovenijo 2024: Mreža Plan B za Slovenijo. https://planbzaslovenijo.si
Balkan River Defence: About. https://balkanriverdefence.org/about/
Mednarodni okoljski center Alpe Adria Green: Kdo smo – kaj delamo. https://alpeadriagreen.org/kaj-delamo/
Rakar, Tatjana, and Tomaž Deželan. 2023. “The Strength of Civil Society in Slovenia after Three Decades of Post-Communist Experience.” In Handbook of Civil Society and Social Movements in Small States, eds. Lino Briguglio. Abingdon; New York: Routledge, 248-261.
Delo. 2021. “Kvorum je presežen, zakon odločno zavrnjen.” https://www.delo.si/novice/slovenija/zakon-o-vodah-na-preizkusnji/
In addition to purely national environmental organizations, there are also national sections of international environmental organizations in Slovenia, such as Green Peace Slovenia. Some national environmental organizations are also well-networked regionally. Alpe Adria Green, which aims for regional integration to solve common ecological problems, has managed to connect all the countries of the former Yugoslavia, Italy, and Slovenia. Balkan River Defense is an organization that campaigns for clean rivers in the Balkans. Other environmental organizations form joint advocacy coalitions, such as Plan B for Slovenia, which has brought together 38 organizations active in sustainable development over the last ten years.
The activities of environmental organizations and other progressive civil society groups gained significant public attention during the so-called “referendum on waters,” when the then-government of Prime Minister Janša (SDS) attempted to liberalize legislation to reduce environmental protections. This would have allowed for increased economic activity, particularly construction projects in protected coastal and river areas.
Environmental organizations were also active in 2023, along with local citizen initiatives addressing specific problems. In March 2023, Youth for Climate Justice organized climate protests in Ljubljana and Maribor, urging authorities to take action against the environmental crisis. The construction of a CO2 sewer in the area of the Ljubljana aquifer sparked several protests. The project, taking place without the appropriate permits, could contaminate drinking water in the event of an accident or earthquake, as the sewer is located in the central part of the Kleče water protection area.
The 8th of March Institute, Eko Anhovo and Dolina Soče associations, and the Danes citizens’ initiative submitted more than 6,000 certified signatures to the National Assembly in September 2023 to propose an amendment to the Environmental Protection Act. This initiative arose primarily due to industrial pollution in Anhovo, where residents suffer from significant health problems and premature deaths. One of the aims of the proposed amendment was to ensure that emission standards for waste incineration are the same as those for co-incineration. The amendment made this possible, eliminating the previous disparity where cement plants faced less stringent requirements than incineration plants. The law was passed in 2024.
Citations:
Civicus/European Civic Monitor 2022. “Country Update: Slovenia. Overview of Recent Restrictions to Civic Freedoms.” https://civicus.org/documents/SloveniaCountryBrief.6April2022.pdf
AJPES 2024: Evidenca nevladnih organizacij v javnem interesu. https://www.ajpes.si/Registri/Drugi_registri/Evidenca_nevladnih_organizacij/Splosno
Plan B za Slovenijo 2024: Mreža Plan B za Slovenijo. https://planbzaslovenijo.si
Balkan River Defence: About. https://balkanriverdefence.org/about/
Mednarodni okoljski center Alpe Adria Green: Kdo smo – kaj delamo. https://alpeadriagreen.org/kaj-delamo/
Rakar, Tatjana, and Tomaž Deželan. 2023. “The Strength of Civil Society in Slovenia after Three Decades of Post-Communist Experience.” In Handbook of Civil Society and Social Movements in Small States, eds. Lino Briguglio. Abingdon; New York: Routledge, 248-261.
Delo. 2021. “Kvorum je presežen, zakon odločno zavrnjen.” https://www.delo.si/novice/slovenija/zakon-o-vodah-na-preizkusnji/