The draft culture euro bill, submitted for a month-long public consultation period on Friday, is based on a proposal submitted in February by coalition MPs, who adopted a government-sponsored bill from 2015.
The bill proposes that the government secure an extra EUR 122.6m between 2020 and 2026 to restore the most jeopardised cultural heritage, ensure balanced development in the field and even access to cultural commodities.
The funds would also be used to make the Slovenian language competitive in the digital environment, buy cultural heritage artefacts and modern art and to secure proper premises and equipment for major cultural institutions.
The ministry expects comments by the stakeholders by 5 November, after which these will be taken into account to produce a final version of the bill, before it is sent to the government and parliament for adoption.
In the parliamentary hearing before appointment, Culture Minister Dejan Prešiček said he would seek to increase in budget funds for culture to at least 0.5% of GDP by 2020.
