The dispute over the non-profit nature of the anti-globalization network Attac has occupied various courts for years. This time it was the Berlin administrative court’s turn.
In the dispute over the non-profit nature of the anti-globalization network Attac, the Federal Ministry of Finance has to publish further documents. This was decided by the administrative court in Berlin and thus corresponded in part to a lawsuit filed by the organisation.
According to the verdict, Attac is entitled to 7 more documents, the network had requested a total of 19 documents. These are parts of the communication between the ministry and the Federal Fiscal Court as part of the procedure for depriving the organization of public utility. The authority listed a total of more than 110 documents, most of which Attac already had. (VG 2 K 102/21)
The network rated the decision, which is not yet final, as a success. Based on the documents, one can now understand the form in which the Federal Ministry of Finance informed members of various committees about the procedure, said spokeswoman Frauke Distelrath. One will calmly check whether the fight for the release of the remaining documents will continue.
These are in particular e-mails between tax authorities at federal and state level. From the point of view of the ministry, the documents are confidential. Therefore, the authority refused the publication. Initially, the ministry withheld all documents, also with reference to ongoing court proceedings. However, after these were completed, the ministry released documents.
Attac: The concept of charitable status was interpreted too narrowly
According to Attac, it is about transparency in the process – also with a view to the consequences for civil society. From the point of view of the network, the concept of non-profit is interpreted too narrowly and thus hinders the work of thousands of associations for the common good.
In 2014, the Frankfurt tax office revoked the non-profit status of the Attac sponsoring association because the network was too political. As a result, members and supporters can no longer deduct their contributions and donations from taxes. The network itself has to pay taxes that non-profit associations do not have to pay.
Attac therefore sued several times against the denial of non-profit status. Most recently, the Federal Fiscal Court denied it again at the beginning of 2021. In spring 2021, Attac filed a constitutional complaint against the withdrawal of non-profit status with the Federal Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe. Attac spokeswoman Distelrath said on Tuesday that it is not currently clear when the Karlsruhe judges will deal with the case.
Source: Stern
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