Half the island’s voluntary organisations have not submitted their public accounts for scrutiny, more than a year after they were due, Times of Malta has learnt.

Just 370 of the 680 non-government entities that were enrolled with the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations by 2012 filed their returns for last year’s annual report on time.

The commissioner’s annual report for 2013 is expected to be published later this year. Sections of the document seen by this newspaper show that 48 per cent of the voluntary organisations were not compliant.

The organisations are obliged to supply detailed accounts or face being removed from the register of recognised voluntary organisations. Organisations are not eligible for government or EU funds if not enrolled with the commissioner.

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