Q&A :: Polish NGOs concerned over new funding plans
PR dla Zagranicy
Agnieszka Łaszczuk
07.12.2016 19:30
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Q&A KATARZYNA BATKO-TOŁUĆ ON POLAND'S THIRD SECTOR.mp3
Poland's third sector is concerned about its future after the government proposed a model of centralized funding of NGOs.
Prime Minister Beata Szydło before her cabinet's meeting on 6 December. Photo: PAP/Radek Pietruszka
Prime Minister Beata Szydło announced last month that a new institution will be established to oversee the financing of Polish non-profit organizations.
She said it would lead to greater transparency as in Poland "we still have to come to the point when politicians do not want to control civic organizations."
Her statement came after public broadcaster TVP criticised the current system in a series of scathing reports.
Human rights campaigners have nevertheless raised concerns that the planned reform could lead to greater state power over NGOs.
"A lot of organizations that were successful in recent years will never get money under this government," said Katarzyna Batko-Tołuć, Vice President of Citizens Network Watchdog Poland.