The Ministry of Culture will have more funds after the rebalancing.

The Ministry of Culture has received an additional €13.6 million in funding for this year following the budget reallocation, according to official figures released by the Ministry of Finance. The total allocated funds have increased from €282.3 million to €295.9 million. This includes €266.7 million in core funding, with European Union funds rising by €12 million to €16 million. Additional funds amounting to €6 million are earmarked for specific purposes, while Slovenia’s contribution to internationally co-financed projects stands at another €6 million. In response to the announced increase in funding, the Legal Network for Democratic Protection noted that there is no indication that the ministry intends to alter existing funding agreements or reduce already awarded sums. They pointed out that the additional funds exceed public estimates of financial shortfall previously cited by Minister Ignacija Fridl Jarc. The network emphasized that under current legal provisions, any adjustment to existing contracts would require a reduction in projected budget allocations, which does not appear to be the case here. The network had previously raised concerns over the terms of funding agreements, which allow the ministry to unilaterally reduce amounts in existing contracts if budget cuts occur. According to their interpretation of the law on implementing public interest in culture, such action requires a decrease in planned budget resources. However, they argue that the new allocation does not meet these conditions. Despite the increased funding, the ministry has yet to clarify its plans regarding ongoing financial commitments, including the financing of cultural projects and the continuation of work stipends. Minister Fridl Jarc had recently announced the suspension of work stipends in the cultural sector, citing changed financial circumstances and a budget deficit of approximately €8.9 million. She also mentioned the cessation of cost-sharing for journalists' salaries, international festival attendance, and media literacy instruments. The ministry was asked how it intends to handle the aforementioned cost-sharing, but responses are still pending. The government is expected to finalize the budget reallocation by late August. Until then, the situation remains uncertain, with stakeholders awaiting further clarification on the implications of the revised funding structure.