Romanian President Sends Law On State-Church Social Assistance Partnership Back To Parliament

According to the law, the state may finance church programs providing social services and charity work, as well as training for social assistance volunteers. In his re-examination request, President Basescu says the state should encourage the integration of social service beneficiaries into families and not social assistance units.

Partnerships between the state and non-government entities to provide social services are regulated by Law 34/1998, which says the state may provide subsidies to Romanian associations and foundations, which set up and operate social assistance units. Article 2 of this law says the value of subsidies may not exceed the monthly average cost per person assisted by similar state-run units. The President says the law to be re-examined says the churches running such services are granted a subsidy of up to 80% of the project’s value, meaning it gives preferential treatment to churches over other non-government organizations operating social services.

The President also requests the law be clear and transparent about the financing procedure for such services, as per an exemption from Law 350/2005 on non-refundable financing from public funds for non-profit activities of general interest. Basescu says this procedure should not be regulated later through a Government decision, which is weaker than a law.

The law on the state-church partnership in social services was adopted by the Parliament on March 8.