Evropski poslanec dr. Igor Šoltes je včeraj v evropskem parlamentu opozoril na neustrezno financiranje slovenskih nevladnih organizacij, ki delujejo na področju demokracije, vladavine prava in boja proti korupciji ter med drugim poudaril pomembno vlogo, ki jo ima Transparency international Slovenia (TI Slovenia) v slovenski družbi. Dr. Šoltes je dejal, »da je nujno zagotoviti ustrezne rešitve, ki bodo omogočile nadaljnje delovanje tako pomembne organizacije, saj je zaupanje javnosti v delovanje države ob višji transparentnosti večje«.
Čeprav je TI Slovenia na področju pridobivanja sredstev s strani institucij Evropske Unije uspešna, je zagotavljanje sofinanciranja teh projektov izjemno oteženo. »TI Slovenia si že več let prizadeva za sistemsko rešitev za sofinanciranje projektov na področju preprečevanja korupcije, vendar je naletelo na gluha ušesa pristojnih institucij« pravi generalni sekretar TI Slovenia, Vid Doria. Za raziskave, analize področne problematike in praktično implementacijo protikorupcijskih orodij je TI Slovenia iz tujih virov v Slovenijo namreč prinesla že več kot pol milijona evrov, pri tem pa uspelo aktivno povezati institucije za intenzivnejše sodelovanje na področju in zagotoviti delovna mesta za 5 strokovnjakov v Sloveniji. »V primeru nadaljnjega nefinanciranja se (TI Slovenia) lahko sooči s popolnim zatonom aktivnosti, Slovenija pa bi tako ponovno postala ena izmed redkih držav, v kateri ne bi bilo predstavnice največje mednarodne organizacije za boj proti korupciji na svetu«, je opozoril dr. Šoltes.
TI Slovenia nudi podporo prijaviteljem koruptivnih dejanj, razgalja povezave na področju lobiranja, razkriva mreže interesov in odločanja v parlamentu, opozarja na neurejenost financiranja političnih strank in izvaja neodvisni nadzor nad volitvami. Velik poudarek daje na preventivne ukrepe in na vzgojo mladih na tem področju, zato sodeluje s širokim krogom deležnikov. Pri svojih aktivnostih je TI Slovenia uspešen, uživa pa tudi ugled v strokovni javnosti.
Kot civilna družba dopolnjuje delovanje Komisije za preprečevanje korupcije, medtem ko slednja do sedaj še ni namenila nobenih sredstev za civilno družbo, čeprav ji Zakon o integriteti in preprečevanju korupcije to možnost izrecno daje. Tudi pristojno ministrstvo – ministrstvo za javno upravo, v okviru katerega ima TI Slovenia status delovanja v javnem interesu, do danes ni zagotovilo nobene podporne sheme za nevladne organizacije, ki delujejo v javnem interesu na področju vladavine prava, demokracije in transparentnosti.
TI Slovenia v sklopu Centra za zagovorništvo, informiranje in pravno svetovanje pomaga žrtvam in pričam korupcije, na katerega se je v zadnjih sedmih mesecih obrnilo že več kot 400 posameznikov ali podjetij, ki so opozarjali na neetična in koruptivna delovanja tako na lokalnem kot tudi nacionalnem nivoju. »Storitev brezplačne pravne pomoči in zaščite prijaviteljev korupcije je sedaj ogrožena, kljub temu, da imamo sredstva s strani Evropske komsije, saj ne moremo zagotavljati obveznega deleža sofinanciranja centra z ne-EU viri. Posebni izziv predstavlja tudi zagotavljanje trajnosti, ki je ključnega pomena pri tovrstnih aktivnostih« opozarja Doria.
TI Slovenia kljub dosedanjim težavam optimistično zre v prihodnost in upa, da se bo našla ustrezna rešitev za problem delovanja civilne družbe na tem področju. S tem namenom pozivamo pristojne organe, da najdejo primerno rešitev, bodisi z neodvisnimi vsebinskimi razpisi na samih ministrstvih, bodisi preko razpisov Komisije za preprečevanje korupcije, kamor je TI Slovenia že posredovala različne predloge rešitve, ki bi dopolnila prizadevanje za vladavino prava in dobro upravljanje z državnim premoženjem.
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Fight against corruption in jeopardy due to lack of funding
Speaking in the European Parliament yesterday, Member of the European Parliament Igor Šoltes raised concerns about inadequate funding of Slovenian nongovernmental organisations concerned with democracy, the rule of law and the fight against corruption. He also drew attention to the crucial role played by Transparency international Slovenia (TI Slovenia) in Slovenian society. Šoltes went on to say that “it is crucial that we find appropriate solutions that would enable the continued operation of such an important organisation, as more transparency increases public trust in the state”.
Despite the fact that TI Slovenia has been successful in obtaining funds provided by European Union institutions, securing co-funding for its projects has proven to be extremely difficult. “Although TI Slovenia has been fighting for a systemic solution for co-funding anti-corruption projects for years, its efforts have fallen on deaf ears with the authorities,” according to TI Slovenia Secretary-General Vid Doria. In order to carry out research, analyses of local issues and the implementation of anti-corruption tools in practice, TI Slovenia has attracted over half a million EUR in foreign funding to Slovenia while forging active connections between institutions to facilitate closer cooperation in the field and providing employment to five experts in Slovenia. “If funding is not provided, it (TI Slovenia) may have to suspend its activities completely, with Slovenia re-emerging as one of the few countries without a representative of the largest international anti-corruption organisation in the world,” Mr. Šoltes warns.
TI Slovenia provides support to whistleblowers in corruption cases, uncovers lobbying links, special interest networks and parliamentary decision-making networks, sheds light on the improper funding practices of political parties and acts as an independent election observer. Placing a great deal of emphasis on prevention measures and educating young people about the field, the organisation works with a wide array of stakeholders. TI Slovenia has been highly successful in carrying out its projects and is held in high esteem in professional circles.
As a civil society organisation, it complements the activities of the Commission for the Prevention of Corruption, although the latter has yet to approve any funding for civil society organisations despite being explicitly authorised to do so by the Integrity and Prevention of Corruption Act. The competent ministry – the Ministry of Public Administration, which bestows the status of an organisation acting in the public interest upon TI Slovenia– has to this day failed to provide a support scheme for nongovernmental organisations acting in the public interest in the fields of democracy, the rule of law and transparency.
TI Slovenia has been helping victims and witnesses of corruption through its Advocacy and Legal Advice Centre, which has had over 400 individuals and companies turn to it over the last seven months to report unethical and corrupt actions, both locally and nationally. “Free legal advice services and the protection of corruption whistleblowers are now at risk despite the fact that we have secured EC funds because we cannot meet the required non-EU funding levels for the Centre. Ensuring sustainability, which is of crucial importance for these activities, also poses a particular challenge,” Doria cautions.
Despite its current issues, TI Slovenia is optimistic about the future and hopes an acceptable solution for civil society activities in the field will be made. For this reason, we would like to appeal to the relevant authorities to find an appropriate solution, by means of independent calls for tenders issued either by the Ministries themselves or the Commission for the Prevention of Corruption, to which TI Slovenia has already submitted a number of proposals for resolving the issue that would complement the efforts towards the rule of law and good governance with state assets.