Bratislava – The Government Office of the Slovak Republic (ÚV) has expressed agreement with the findings of the European Court of Auditors (EDA), which underscore the importance and validity of legislative reforms in Slovakia. The EDA’s latest report highlights that the funding of NGOs by the European Union lacks sufficient transparency. This information was relayed by the press and information department of the ÚV SR.
According to the government office, “The European Court of Auditors has released a report on the EU’s funding of non-governmental organizations, indicating a significant lack of transparency. It is noteworthy that this crucial issue has not received coverage in the Slovak media, especially at a time when a new legal framework aimed at enhancing transparency in the third sector is under consideration in the National Council of the Slovak Republic.” The office fully supports the conclusions drawn in the EDA’s report.
The ÚV SR emphasizes that boosting transparency for non-governmental organizations and regulating lobbying—particularly that which benefits select NGOs promoting foreign interests—aligns with European standards, a sentiment echoed by the EDA’s findings.
The EDA’s report indicates that, despite some advancements, the funding processes for EU non-governmental organizations still lack adequate transparency. The report criticizes the European Commission for its insufficient disclosure of certain lobbying activities financed by the EU and points out the absence of rigorous controls to ensure that recipient NGOs uphold EU values.
A proposed amendment to the law governing non-profit organizations, introduced by the coalition party SNS, is currently up for discussion in parliament. This legislation, which is expected to be debated next week, aims to implement several key changes, including the requirement for non-profit organizations, foundations, and associations with annual incomes exceeding 35,000 euros to compile a transparency report. This report would need to disclose information about individuals contributing over 5,000 euros to the organization within a year, as well as identification details of the organization’s governing bodies or members.
Additionally, the proposal seeks to regulate lobbying activities, while exempting trade unions, employer organizations, and sports organizations from the definition of lobbying. (April 10)
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