GOVT PROPOSES NEW WAYS OF FINANCING ASSOCIATIONS

( Editorial: --> 1340 ) ZAGREB, Feb 15 (Hina) - The Croatian Government has proposed to the Croatian National Parliament criteria for financing associations which are in line with the new Law on Associations. If the Parliament approves the proposed criteria, a large number of associations in Croatia could soon be without financial support from the Government. On the other hand, associations which the Government ascertains as working in the interests of Croatia would receive more means for the implementation of their future programmes. The Government put forward two proposals to the Parliament: criteria for financing associations from the state budget and measures for identifying associations which work in the interests of the Republic of Croatia. Administration Minister Davorin Mlakar said that the Government has proposed that reasons for financing an association in the future should not be its mere existence but its programme. However, it will only apply to those programmes which we assess as being extremely important for us, said the Minister. An association whose work is in the interests of the Republic of Croatia is defined by the mentioned criteria as an organisation which operates on the whole territory of Croatia and has a large membership. Its programme should be intended for a greater percentage of the population. It is subsequently an association which is a member of an international organisation and also has "significant results" in its work, which, in turn, raises the profile of the Republic of Croatia. We believe it is especially important to finance these programmes because we expect that their results will benefit the Government, affirmed Administration Minister Mlakar. Association programmes which are in line with Croatia's programmes and priorities will be subsidised. For some associations, though, this could be determined by a special law, for example the Law on the Croatian Red Cross, said Mlakar. Means for the financial support of associations would be itemised in the state budget and subsidies distributed through a government administration body whose activity is in the same category as the association's function. These bodies would investigate the plausibility of the programme and allocate funds. Associations which by their aims and work implement tasks from a body of the government administration will not be financed. If the Parliament accepts the Government's proposals, associations will have to present a report on the execution of their programmes to date as well as a financial report, which would justify a subsidy. Those associations which will want to receive funds from the state budget will have to prepare a financial report which would show from whom they receive money, so that it could be established whether they use their own funds to achieve aims for which they were established. According to Government data, more than DM 14 million or 0.13 per cent of the state budget was secured for about 300 associations last year. Apart from that, the Government also pays for the associations' very high membership fees to international organisations. Until recently there were about 19,500 citizens' associations and social organisations registered in Croatia, of which a greater number were on the lower levels of the government administration. Two weeks before 15 January this year, when the associations' deadline for pre-registration expired in line with the Law on Associations, out of 2,100 associations and social organisations, 400 lodged requests to the Administration Ministry but only 60 were registered. (hina) jn mrb 151155 MET feb 98