Government: State Authorities to Carry Out Checks on NGOs

Bratislava, 18 February (TASR) - State authorities under the remit of the Interior, Finance, and Labour Ministries, as well as other institutions, are to conduct ongoing inspections of non-governmental non-profit organisations, focusing primarily on compliance with the legal conditions for operating, according to a document approved by the government on Wednesday. The cabinet responded to a decision by the Constitutional Court, which, according to the government, blocked an increase in the transparency of non-governmental organisations. "It is proposed that the relevant state authorities use all existing legal control mechanisms and carry out checks on non-governmental non-profit organisations with a focus on compliance with the legal conditions of their activities, financing and management, with particular emphasis on the drawing and use of public funds, as well as compliance with labour regulations, regulations on occupational health and safety, and legislation on public procurement and personal data protection," stated the Government Office in the document that it submitted to the cabinet for discussion. Last year, the Constitutional Court ruled that the amendment to the law on NGOs providing generally beneficial services ran contrary to the Constitution and the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. According to the court, the legislation contradicts articles of the Constitution concerning fundamental human rights and freedoms, as well as political rights. The legislation introduced, for example, an obligation for non-governmental organisations to prepare transparency reports and disclose information on the management of public funds. am/df