LOWER HOUSE ADOPTS BILL ON ASSOCIATIONS

ZAGREB, Jan 31 (Hina) - The House of Representatives on Wednesday adopted a bill on associations in the first reading. The bill envisages the liberalisation of the system of associations and makes conditions for their establishment less strict. To establish an association would in the future require five instead of ten founders. The bill also reduces the number of data needed for the registration of an association, said Justice Minister Stjepan Ivanisevic. The system of associations is being decentralised and associations would be registered at county offices and not at the Justice Ministry as has been the case so far. Foreign associations would have to be registered at the Justice Ministry. The bill lessens control by administrative bodies because there have been many objections that the influence of state bodies on associations was too extensive, Ivanisevic said. According to the bill, the government would invite bids for the subsidising of associations' programmes and projects from the state budget. All parliamentary parties endorsed the bill, but they believe it needs some additional work. Deputies of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) believe the bill should regulate the restitution of property of some associations which at one time became the state's property. Ivanisevic said that under the existing law and in line with criteria which should have been determined by parliament, the government should have transferred that immovable property to the associations which were the legal successors to formerly socially- owned organisations. This was not done and due to the complexity of the material, it is being suggested that the resolution of this problem be postponed, Ivanisevic said. The lower house tonight adopted a bill on the prevention of drug abuse, which is in the first reading, and which was debated this morning. The session resumes tomorrow. (hina) rml