Government widens scope of non-profit organisations

The Czech government backed changes to the current 12-year-old law on charities and foundations on Monday. The changes tabled by Minister for Human Rights and Minorities, Michael Kocáb, allow the non-profit organisations to expand the scope of their activities so that they better cope with the ongoing economic crisis. It also gives them better access to funding which should flow from the beginning of the financial year. The amendment also allows them to wind up their activities with fewer complications. Charities and foundations mushroomed after the collapse of Communism but many disappeared when stricter rules were brought in demanding they had a minimum half million crowns to start up.