Netherlands prepares new draft bill on disclosure of donations for civil society organisations

Association

On 21st December 2018, the Minister for Legal Protection published the draft bill on the Civil Society Organisations Transparency Act. The bill proposes that CSOs must disclose all donations of 15.000€ or more per year, including the date on which the donation was received and the donor’s name and place of residence. 

The government argues that the bill is needed to "increase the transparency of cash flows to civil society organisations and to prevent the financing of civil society organisations from being associated with undesirable influence and the abuse of democratic freedoms".

The bill is currently open for public consultation until 22nd February 2019. Civil society organisations fear that the disclosure requirements will decrease donations.