A victory for the non profit sector

Giulio Tremonti has answered the third sector’s call. The 300 million euros missing from the 5xmille fund have been replaced. The 5xmille (5 per thousand) is a measure which enables Italian taxpayers to allocate 0.005 per cent of their income tax to a non profit organization or institution of their choice but last November the government announced that two thirds of the budget necessary to fund the 5xmille would be cut.

The result? The Italian third sector went up in arms. On November 25, the Italian third sector forum, Forum per il Terzo Settore, led by the third sector magazine VITA paraded a two meter wide pair of men’s underwear infront of Palazzo Chigi, the seat of the Italian government chanting the slogan: “Is this how you want to leave the non profit sector?”.

The campaign was accompanied by a petition, to date signed by 20 thousand people, asking the government to replace the 300 million missing euros, as they represent a lifeline for many Italian non profit organisations.

The good news arrived today. The council of ministers, who met this morning to approve the end of year decree called Milleproroghe, literally, “one thousand extentions”, have included a total budget of 400 million euros for the 2011 5xmille. A nice way to end 2010 for the Italian third sector.