Following the reactions and reports published yesterday regarding the process of allocating financial support to NGOs in the field of local governance, we consider it necessary to provide some clarifications to the public opinion. The process was developed in full compliance with the Regulation of the Ministry of Finance No. 04/2017 on Criteria, Standards and Procedures for Public Financing of NGOs, as well as with the criteria set out in the public call, respecting the principles of legality, equal treatment, transparency and accountability.
The evaluation of applications was carried out in a professional, objective and impartial manner by committees appointed according to legal procedures. The evaluation process included not only institutional representatives, but also experts and external representatives, guaranteeing integrity, professionalism and credibility at each stage of the process. Each application has been reviewed and evaluated based on the previously announced criteria and the documentation submitted by the applicants.
It should also be noted that the process has not yet been completed. We are currently in the phase of reviewing complaints by the Complaints Commission, a mechanism provided for by the Regulation of the Ministry of Finance No. 04/2017 precisely to guarantee the right of each applicant to review decisions and fair procedural treatment. For this reason, the results published so far are preliminary and not final.
In accordance with the regulation in force, the final list of beneficiaries, along with the names of the organizations, the amounts of approved funding and other relevant information, will be published after the completion of the complaints procedure and the issuance of the final decision. This approach aims to protect the integrity of the process and ensure that all administrative and legal procedures are concluded before the publication of the final results.
Transparency is not measured by publishing information during a process that is not yet complete, but by respecting the law, procedures and fully publishing the final results. This is exactly what the MLGA is doing: a regular, documented, monitorable process and developed in accordance with the standards set by the Regulation on Public Financing of NGOs.
After the conclusion of the complaints procedure, the public will be fully informed about the final results, beneficiaries and funding values, demonstrating once again the commitment to transparency, accountability and responsible management of public funds.