Voluntary organisations are warning the authorities that if they do not withdraw controversial regulations governing fundraising by NGOs, the issue will end up at the Council of Europe.
The warning was sounded on Thursday by an action group led by five organisations that are calling on fellow NGOs to continue collecting public funds without applying for a permit to do so.
“We will protect those who are penalised for following our directive,” Robert Aquilina, from
Repubblika, told a press conference.
“Additionally, since the basis of the new legal notices is intrinsically wrong and a serious threat for the voluntary sector, if the authorities do not immediately withdraw the notice, we will inform the Council of Europe.”
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The government spent more than €6.8 million on equipment and services related to COVID-19 between July and December last year, with costs for swabbing and testing kits ballooning as infections increased.
The contract with the heftiest price tag – more than €2.2 million – saw the government purchasing an undisclosed number of rapid test kits at the end of the November. This contract was awarded to E.J. Busuttil Ltd.
The government also forked out nearly €1.2 million for the leasing of beds for patients to be kept in isolation at St Thomas Hospital.
Details of the contracts awarded by the government – both through direct order and the so-called negotiated procedure – were published in the Government Gazette this week. A negotiated procedure allows the government to consult the economic operators of its choice and negotiate the terms of a contract with one or more of them.