A newly adopted proposal in Romania to amend the Law on Associations and Foundations is raising serious concerns among CSOs over growing restrictions on freedom of association and privacy. The draft law, approved by the Senate on 18 May, would require associations and foundations to publicly disclose donor identities and introduces severe sanctions, including suspension of activities and possible dissolution for non-compliance. CSOs warn that the proposal reflects “foreign agent”-style legislation seen in Russia, Hungary, and Georgia, where similar laws have been used to stigmatize and pressure independent organisations under the pretext of transparency. Several Romanian institutional bodies have also criticised the proposal over concerns related to proportionality, legal clarity, and compatibility with European standards. The proposal has also attracted international attention, with the President of the Conference of INGOs of the CoE and the President of its Expert Council on NGO Law expressing concerns over the draft amendments in a letter addressed to Romania’s Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe. The draft law will now move to the Chamber of Deputies for debate, with a final vote expected in June. Read more here.
Source: Civic Space Watch/ CoE