Final Govt/NGO Cooperation Agreement Expected in Mid-2005

Ljubljana, 8 December

The draft cooperation agreement between the government and NGOs for the period between 2005 and 2008 was presented to the public on Wednesday in the National Council. The document aims at improving the working conditions of NGOs and encouraging the government to acknowledge the important role of NGOs.

The agreement was drafted by a negotiating body of NGOs and government officials. Head of the government committee for the cooperation with NGOs Pavel Gantar believes that the agreement could be finalised by the end of 2005 and that the new government will have no problem approving it.
According to Mirko Vaupotic, secretary of the Association of Slovenian Societies (ZDOS) - which organised today's presentation alongside the National Council - the draft agreement comprises several key topics: civil dialogue, the establishment of cooperation, negotiations between the two sides, and the consideration of NGO opinions in adopting regulations.
Vaupotic highlighted the proposed increase of public funds for NGOs, Slovenia ranking among the EU member states with the smallest share of public spending on NGOs. This would also mean more jobs in NGOs, he said.
Vaupotic explained that the EU has an 8-percent share of employed persons in NGOs, the share in new member states is 1.4 percent, while in Slovenia it is 0.7 percent. Most of the funds envisaged by the draft agreement would be used for new employment and for staff training.
Between 2005 and 2008, 1,000 new jobs in NGOs are thus expected to be assured each year on the basis of the agreement, he revealed.
Gantar pointed out that the consequences brought on by the agreement must be kept in mind. For example the fact that more jobs in the non-governmental sector would mean restructuring of the public sector. He added that it was quite likely that the agreement would be finalised in mid-2005.

Final Govt/NGO Cooperation Agreement Expected in Mid-2005

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