The Czech government has clarified that it is not planning legislation to penalize organizations receiving foreign funding, according to Justice Minister Jeroným Tejc (ANO) following Monday’s cabinet meeting. Instead, the government intends to introduce a decree expanding reporting obligations for non-profit organizations, requiring them to disclose detailed information about their funding sources.
Previously, a group of coalition MPs had been working on a draft law targeting NGOs with partial foreign financing. The proposed legislation would have created a new registry for all entities operating in the Czech public sphere that received any level of foreign funding or had foreign ties. The registry would have been managed by the Justice Ministry, which would also oversee compliance, handle administrative offenses, and impose sanctions.
The draft law faced significant criticism from experts, who warned that it resembled Russia’s “foreign agents” legislation and could have serious implications for civil society. The government’s decision to move forward with enhanced reporting requirements rather than punitive legislation reflects a shift toward greater transparency without directly penalizing NGOs.
