Together with Philea, Social Services Europe, the European Center for Not for Profit Law and CEDAG, we welcome the European Parliament Report on A Statute for European Cross Border Associations and non-profit organisations as an important contribution to the recognition and strengthening of the role and enabling framework of civil society organisations in Europe, both by proposing a regulation for a European Association and by proposing Minimum benchmarks for not-for-profit associations at national level.

Civil society organisations, notably Associations, NGOs and Foundations that gather and empower citizens and/or advocate and work for the public good have been calling for the creation of such a European Statute for several decades given the hurdles that we face in cross border cooperation. A Statute for the European Cooperative Society has existed since 2003, but the other actors of social economy, notably associations and foundations are still waiting for a EU level framework.

We are confident that the European Parliament as a whole will support these proposals and we call for a close dialogue with civil society organisations and with EU institutions as regards to follow up discussions and translation into legislation and policy.

In this context we call on the European Commission to ensure that provisions for the European Association Statute and the minimum standards are fully in compliance with the freedom of association, expression and assembly as enshrined in international law and in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.

Please find here our full position.