Rasi: It's Necessary to Clarify Interpretation of NGO Law

Bratislava, 19 August (TASR) – The interpretation of the legislation on NGOs needs to be clarified, House Chair Richard Rasi (Voice-SD) concurred with representatives of the Chamber of Non-Governmental Non-Profit Organisations at their meeting on Tuesday. Specific solutions are expected to be forwarded to the Government Council for NGOs. Deputy Interior Minister Michal Kalinak also attended the meeting. „No one questioned the principle of transparency, which the legislation is based on. However, we agreed that certain parts of it require a clear and precise interpretation to avoid any ambiguities and unnecessary red tape,” said Rasi. NGO representatives identified specific parts of the law that are unclear in practice or cause administrative difficulties. According to the head of Parliament, it is necessary to find solutions as soon as possible to simplify the operations of NGOs in areas where the legislative amendment has introduced complications. One example is the requirement for NGOs to publish information that is already held by relevant state and public institutions. This aims to prevent duplication and reduce the administrative burden on organisations. The Deputy Interior Minister also recommended that NGOs submit their proposals and comments to the Government Council for Non-Governmental and Non-Profit Organisations. He called this an essential step to ensure an effective resolution of the current situation. The council is expected to address these comments at its next session. The House Chair also stressed the importance of continued constructive dialogue with the third sector. „I do not see this law as the final word, but as the beginning of a dialogue,” noted Rasi. He stated that the shared goal should be a free, active, and fully transparent third sector. The amendment to the NGO legislation has been in effect since June. It introduces, for example, the obligation for organisations to produce a transparency report and to disclose information about their use of public funds. Public Ombudsman Robert Dobrovodsky, has challenged the amendment in the Constitutional Court. He argues that parts of the law violate the principle of freedom, hinder civil society’s participation in public life, and introduce disproportionate state interventions that allow for “spying” on NGOs. He hopes the Constitutional Court will uphold his motion, thereby preserving a high standard of the right to association. The Government Office criticised his action, claiming that by doing so, the Ombudsman sided with the political opposition. The office views the submission as unnecessary and political. mf