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Civil Society Index – Rapid Assessment (CSI-RA), Developed by CIVICUS, Was Used

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Civil Society Index – Rapid Assessment (CSI-RA), Developed by CIVICUS, Was Used This report is the result of a cooperation between: INTERESSENVERTRETUNG GEMEINNÜTZIGER ORGANISATIONEN Stubenring 2/4 1010 Vienna, Austria www.gemeinnuetzig.at Contact: [email protected] KOMPETENZZENTRUM FÜR NONPROFIT ORGANISATIONEN UND SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien Welthandelsplatz 2 1020 Vienna, Austria www.npo.or.at Contact: [email protected] CIVICUS: WORLD ALLIANCE FOR CITIZEN PARTICIPATION PO BOX 933, Southdale 2135, JHB, South Africa www.civicus.org Contact: [email protected] Vienna, June 2014 Translation: Agnes Kitzler Copyright IGO, NPO&SE Kompetenzzentrum, CIVICUS PREFACE ............................................................................................................................................... 4 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ...................................................................................................................... 4 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................................... 5 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................. 8 I. CIVIL SOCIETY INDEX PROJEKT & APPROACH ......................................................................... 9 1. PROJECT BACKGROUND .................................................................................................... 9 2. APPROACH AND CSI IMPLEMENTATION ...................................................................... 9 3. SCOPE OF THE SURVEY ................................................................................................... 11 II. CIVIL SOCIETY IN AUSTRIA................................................................................................... 12 1. THE CONCEPT OF CIVIL SOCIETY ............................................................................... 12 2. HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENTS ....................................................................................... 16 3. A DEPICTION OF CIVIL SOCIETY – AUSTRIA’S NPO SECTOR .......................... 17 III. ANALYSIS OF CIVIL SOCIETY ................................................................................................. 23 1. DEMOCRACY IN AUSTRIA ............................................................................................... 23 2. FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION .......................................................................................... 30 3. FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY ................................................................................................. 35 4. ACCESS TO FINANCIAL RESOURCES ......................................................................... 46 5. TAX LAW ................................................................................................................................ 51 6. EMPLOYMENT AND VOLUNTEERING ........................................................................... 59 7. PROVISION OF SERVICES (SERVICE AGREEMENTS / FUNDING) ................... 64 8. TRANSPARENCY IN THE CONTEXT OF SERVICE AGREEMENTS AND FUNDING ............................................................................................................................... 72 9. VISIBILITY OF THE IMPACT OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT .......................................... 77 IV. FRAMEWORK CONDITIONS FOR CIVIL SOCIETY IN AUSTRIA – STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES 81 V. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ACTION ...................................................................................... 84 BIBLIOGRAPHY ................................................................................................................................ 87 PREFACE A vibrant civil society contributes significantly to a living democracy, social cohesion and social innovation. Civil society organizations (CSOs) provide important services. Especially in times of crisis, they can help to improve living conditions for many people. Appropriate framework conditions are a prerequisite if the potentials of civil society are to be developed and exploited in an effective way. While this has been known to scholars and experts for some time, politicians are now becoming increasingly aware of the opportunities which may arise from creating favorable conditions for civil society. The Civil Society Index – Rapid Assessment (CSI–RA), therefore, examines the general climate and framework conditions for civil society initiatives and organizations in Austria. Using the internationally tested CSI-RA tool, supporting as well as limiting factors were identified and assessed from the point of view of experts and social stakeholders. The ultimate aim of this report is to provide a basis for the creation of a beneficial environment for Austrian civil society. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This report is the result of a co-operation between the Interest Group of Public Benefit Organizations (IGO) and the Competence Center for Nonprofit Organizations and Social Entrepreneurship (NPO cc) at the Vienna University of Economics and Business. The method applied was developed by the CIVICUS World Alliance for Citizen Participation. The Civil Society Index – Rapid Assessment was realized with the participation of a great number of people whom we would like to thank at this point. We are grateful to the members of the National Advisory Group, Karin Abram, Robert Dempfer, Nikolaus Dimmel, Gerald Fitz, Gabriele Gerbasits, Katharina Meichenitsch, Filip Radunovic, Hanna Simons, Philipp Sonderegger, Barbara Weber and Wilhelm Zwirner, who helped with the development of the thematic priorities and the interpretation of the study’s results. We are indebted to our interviewees, who shared their expertise and, thus, provided profound insights into the legal and practical framework conditions under which civil society organizations operate in Austria. We would also like to thank Katrin Hora, Žana Simić and Sabine Klinghofer for their assistance in conducting and transcribing the interviews. Gottfried Sulz, Andreas Lummerstorfer and Philipp Hense kindly helped us finalize this report by contributing theoretical and practical expertise. Last but not least, we are indebted to the following institutions: RD Foundation, Erste Foundation, Erste Bank and Allianz Gruppe in Austria. It is their support which made the implementation of this project possible. Eva More-Hollerweger, Romy Grasgruber-Kerl, Franz Neunteufl und Ruth Simsa (National Implementation Coalition) 4 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Interest Group of Public Benefit Organizations (IGO) and the Competence Center for Nonprofit Organizations and Social Entrepreneurship at the Vienna University of Economics and Business have, in cooperation with CIVICUS, conducted a study on the framework conditions for civil society in Austria. In conducting the study, The Civil Society Index – Rapid Assessment (CSI-RA), developed by CIVICUS, was used. The analysis focuses on six topics including nine subtopics which, in cooperation with the National Advisory Group (NAG), consisting of 11 representatives of civil society organizations, have been evaluated as particularly important to this field of research. Indicators assembled from different sources (CIVICUS and ECNL) and complemented by the NAG form the basis of this analysis. Methodologically, the analysis is based on desk research (analysis of literature and documents) and 24 interviews which were conducted with legal experts and CSO representatives. One central aspect of the CSI-RA is its participatory approach, which meant that the NAG was able to give feedback on the methodological approach, the main topics and the preliminary results at various stages throughout the process. Topic Subtopic Democracy 1. Democracy Civil and human rights 2. Freedom of association 3. Freedom of assembly 4. Access to financial resources Tax law 5. Tax law Employment/social security 6. Employment and volunteering Procurement law and funding 7. Provision of services 8. Transparency in the allocation of service level agreements and promotions Visibility 9. Public perception of civic work Preceding the analysis, this report includes an account of characteristics of as well as historical developments in Austrian civil society. A description of the non-profit sector based on selected secondary data will also be given. Democracy in Austria is the first topic chosen in the analysis. The democratic quality is depicted by means of the Democracy Barometer which compares 30 established democracies based on the three main aspects of freedom, equality and control, with every aspect divided up into three further sub-aspects. The strength of Austrian democracy lies in its guarantee and actual realization of individual freedom and the rule of law. The level of participation, on the other hand, is only average. Austria also fares comparatively poorly with regard to the public sphere, the main reason for this being a particularly high concentration of media. 5 Civil and Human rights include three subtopics: freedom of association, freedom of assembly and CSOs’ access to financial resources. Freedom of association is well anchored in Austrian law and frequently implemented. In the recent past, trouble arose in connection with criminal convictions issues, when animal rights activists were accused of having participated in founding a criminal organization as referred to in article §278 of the Austrian criminal code (StGB). Austrian law also provides a good basis for freedom of assembly. Assemblies are not subject to approval in Austria. They do, however, require
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