The government says NGOs can stay on Metelkova
STA, June 29, 2022 – After her predecessor initiated proceedings for the eviction of several non-governmental organizations that rented out the premises of the Ministry of Culture on Ljubljana’s Metelkova Street, the new Minister of Culture Asta Vrečko announced on Wednesday that the proceedings would be stopped. The ministry has also canceled plans to lease the premises to the Natural History Museum.
After meeting with the affected independent producers and organizations, Vrečko told reporters that her predecessor Vasko Simoniti and the previous government had led a rather hostile discourse against NGOs.
While the ministry is aware of the infrastructural problems of the Natural History Museum, the ministry pointed out that the building at Metelkova 6 was intended for non-governmental organizations from the very beginning and that it must remain so.
Vrečko announced that the court proceedings for the eviction of 18 non-governmental organizations and six libraries would be completed as soon as possible. Talks on the much-needed renovation of the building are also likely to begin in the summer.
The director of the Peace Institute, Iztok Šorli, said on behalf of the users that today’s meeting was full of optimism. He expects the new government to provide better conditions in the field of infrastructure for non-governmental organizations in Slovenia.