Income Generated from Games of Chance to Go to Six Areas

13 February 2008

Representatives of NGO sector in Montenegro demand more efficient system of public financing, based on clear principles and criteria, with respect for the independence of the sector.

The NGO Coalition Through Cooperation to Results, established in May 2006, organized a round-table discussion with representatives of the Government, to discuss the proposed Regulation on Criteria for Definition of Users and Manner of Redistribution of Income Generated from Games of Chance.

According to the Draft-Regulation, at 75% of the funds collected through organization of games of chance and lottery will be used to finance NGO programmes and plans. The Sector expects more finances than in 2007, when, according to Dragan Drobnjak, Chairperson of the Commission for Redistribution of Funds, a total of 2,380,000 EUR were dedicated to the NGO sector.

According to the Draft, the funds will be redistributed to six areas: social protection and humanitarian work (5%); persons with special needs (40%); sports (20%); culture and technical culture (10%); non-institutional education (5%); fight against drug-abuse and other addictions (20%).

The funds will be redistributed on basis of public competition, along clear and pre-defined criteria.