“This is why we must show the enormous, devoted work which several thousand associations and foundations carry out, typically on a voluntary basis,” Fülöp told the paper.

He noted that a decision was imminent concerning bids submitted to the National Cooperation Fund. Accordingly, civil society organisations engaged in genuine, value-adding work which serves the wider public stand to benefit, he said, as opposed to groups serving the interests of foreign organisations.

Bence Rétvári, state secretary at the ministry of human resources, told the paper that, thanks to the establishment of the Civil Information Centre, organisations will be selected in tenders region by region.

These groups will operate in a uniform way and will therefore face the same tasks, problems, challenges. This will make the system credible, he added.

Republished with permission of Hungary Matters, MTI’s daily newsletter.