Italy takes action for the third sector

Italy’s minister of the economy and finance, Giulio Tremonti, has been warned. The country’s non profit sector no longer believes his promises, nor those made by the government. And that is why, on December 16, the Forum per il Terzo Settore – a third sector forum that represents some of Italy’s leading non profit organisations – will meet outside the Ministry of Finance.

The Italian 5 per thousand (5xmille), a measure which enables Italian taxpayers to donate 0.005 per cent of their income tax to a non profit organisation or institution of their choice (hospitals, research centres, libraries and sports centres as well as NGOs), is the mainstay of the government’s financial support to the third sector. And yet this year, only 100 million euros has been earmarked for the 5xmille, 300 million euros less than promised.

Twenty thousand people have already signed the petition, called “Ripristinate subito il 5xmille”, asking the government to keep its promises and allocate 400 million euros to the 5xmille fund. The petition, which was signed by 5 thousand Italian non profit organisations, was launched by VITA magazine together with the Forum for the Terzo Settore and Riccardo Bonacina, VITA’s founder says “the numbers are proof of the strength of the Italian third sector’s mobilization machine. We will not give up, not now and not ever.”

To find out more about the 5xmille: Italy’s “goodness” at risk

To sign the petition and support the Italian non profit sector click here!