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CSCE/SEDIO.3
financial support and meet certain requirements, e.g. the readiness to contest elections. It was noted that members of political parties should not be barred from serving as judges or in public administration.
It was noted that while voluntary organizations present themselves under a variety of forms, they have many features in common. They are set up by groups of individuals pursuing common interests of a professional, economic or non-profit nature. Distinctions between them could be on the basis of criteria such as the degree of organization, size, complexity and the functions performed.
Although voluntary organizations might not primarily aim at exercising political responsibilities, they could help articulate citizens' demands on specific issues. They could serve to encourage diversity and the growth of different opinions and facilitate the integration of groups. It was underlined that voluntary organizations provided democratic societies with early-warning systems against government interference and
anti-democratic activities. Many voluntary organizations played a prominent role in economic life, providing in some cases a complement to market forces. Many experts pointed out that public
authorities should refrain from bureaucratic control.
Some pitfalls for voluntary organizations were pointed out: centralization of decision-making and co-option by State
authorities.
Reference was also made to the fact that narrow,
well-defined interests are more likely to form the basis for
voluntary organizations than more general ones.
Experts identified some trends in modern society which influence the working conditions for voluntary organizations and
trade unions. In some countries, one could observe a certain
tendency of voluntary organizations to withdraw from participation
in consultative state organs, and the loosening of ties between
trade unions and political parties. The effects thereof on civil society were not yet clear.