RSD 8.63 billion allocated to civil society projects

BELGRADE - A total of RSD 9.23 billion (EUR 1 = RSD 116) have been allocated from the Serbian budget and RSD 8.63 billion paid for projects and programs of civil society organizations in 2012, it was stated today at the presentation of the annual report of the Serbian government Office for Cooperation with Civil Society.

The largest funds in the amount of RSD 7.8 billion were earmarked as grants for non-governmental organizations, RSD 1 billion went to social care, and RSD 68.3 million were paid as subsidies to public non-financial enterprises.

According to the report, the Office allocated RSD 517 million for cooperation with churches and religious communities, while the Ministry of Finance earmarked RSD 2.5 billion for the funding and activities of political parties.

The report contains analyses of budget expenditures on national, provincial and local government levels.

"The largest funds were allocated by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, RSD 3.02 billion, ahead of the Finance Ministry with RSD 2.5 billion, and Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Policy with RSD 361 million," said Milena Banovic of the Office for Cooperation with Civil Society at the report presentation.

This was the Office's second report which, unlike the previous, included budget expenditures at a local level, and according to its director Ivana Cirkovic such reports serve as a way to monitor allocation from the budget.

Most supported programs were in the domain of sports and recreation, as much as 35 percent, while arts and culture accounted for 12 percent, and children and youth for nine percent of the programs, ahead of social inclusion, environment, education and science.