Tudi to je Slovenija: Jezikovne zahteve in njihovo uresničevanje

Zadnja leta Slovenija zaostruje jezikovne zahteve: od novembra 2024 od polnoletnih državljank in državljanov tretjih držav, ki se želijo združiti s svojo družino ali pridobiti dovoljenje za stalno prebivanje, zahteva uradno dokazilo o znanju slovenščine. Jezikovne zahteve za priseljene v Sloveniji niso novost, pozna jih tudi večina evropskih držav. A z novimi jezikovnimi pogoji se Slovenija pridružuje strožjim državam EU, ki na ta način omejujejo pravice priseljenim. Zakonodajalci pri določanju jezikovnih pogojev pogosto bolj upoštevajo ideološke vidike, manj pa sledijo funkcionalno-praktični logiki. V prispevku bomo predstavili, kako se v prvih šestih mesecih od uveljavitve novih jezikovnih zahtev te uresničujejo v praksi, kako jih sprejemajo priseljeni in kako vplivajo na njihovo življenje ter kaj v zvezi s tem opažajo izvajalci programov jezikovne pomoči.

In recent years, Slovenia has been gradually tightening its language requirements. Since November 2024, adult third country nationals who wish to reunite with their family or obtain permanent residency are required to provide official proof of proficiency in Slovenian. Language requirements for immigrants are not a new concept – most European countries have similar measures – but authorities often prioritise ideological considerations over functional and practical reasoning when setting them. With new language requirements, Slovenia is joining the group of stricter EU countries that (mis)use this approach to limit the immigrants’ rights. In this article, we will present how the new language requirements have been implemented in practice during the first six months, how immigrants perceive and experience them, and what language support programme providers have observed in this regard.