Cooperazione & Relazioni internazionali

Hungary: Civil-society conference in Budapest

Between 1990 and 2007 the number of non profit organisations in Hungary grew 6 times and the important role of civil society in the development of the coutry was acknowledged by government officials

di Kriszta Maria Takacs

The so-called Civil Conference took place in Budapest in Mid-February. Amongst others the President of the Parliament, Ms Katalin Szily and the leader of chancellery, Mr Peter Kiss participated in the event.

Ms Szily drew the attention to the fact that 656 national civil organisations are enlisted on the Parliament’s lobby list, eventhough there are 60 thousands civil organisations in Hungary.

Mr Kiss highlighted that the civil sector became non-profit in between 1990 and 2007. In this period, the number of organisations increased six times, and their income grew from 210 milliard HUF (807 million Euros) to 850 milliard HUF (3.2 milliard Euros), and the number of employees reaches 100 thousand. Furthermore, he informed that 1.3 – 1.4 million tax-payers paid 8,5 milliard HUF (326 million Euros) to 27 thousands organisations in the form of 1 percent of their tax in 2007. Since 1 percent of tax can be offered to civil organisations and an other 1 percent to churches. Moreover, the civil organisations received 6,3 milliard HUF (242 million Euro) from the National Civil Base Programme.

Mr Kiss announced that there is three milliard HUF as application money solely for civil organisations in the “New Hungary” Developmental Plan. He emphasised the important role of civil organisations as they can offer good solutions to problems which are not recognised by the state.

On behalf of the government, he offered further partnership, co-operation and dialogue with the civil organisations.


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