Introduction
In the course of its Fourth Annual General Meeting in Prague, Czech Republic on November 6 through 9, 1993, members of the European Foundation Centre, representatives of national, international and supranational organisations, and prominent guest participants from public, private and corporate life agreed on the need to formulate a collective statement of principles and commitment for the independent funding sector.
The statement - promulgated as The Declaration of Prague - reaffirms not only the fundamental objectives of the independent funding sector but also that sector's firm and unequivocal commitment to operate within clearly-defined and transparent parameters of disclosure and accountability. The Declaration calls for reciprocal undertakings on the part of governments and supranational institutions to provide an advantageous legal and fiscal environment in which the sector can continue to operate efficiently and effectively.
The Declaration draws extensively on collective expertise and good practice developed by the European Foundation Centre, its programme and interest groups, and its extensive global network of members and associates. The Declaration has been widely circulated to national governments, supranational institutions, global agencies, national and cross-frontier grantmaking and grantseeking organisations, and the media.
The Declaration
In the name of its members, the European Foundation Centre, convening on November 9, 1993 in Prague in the Czech Republic:
- Reaffirms the unique role played by independent funders in building a just, equitable and sustainable civil society in the New Europe;
- Acknowledges the paramount importance of openness, integrity, self-regulation and control within the rule of law in democratic society; and
- Calls upon governments and European and international institutions to provide a coherent legal and fiscal framework to support and regulate foundations and associations.
The European Foundation Centre and its independent funder members are committed to:
- Defence of fundamental human rights and freedoms;
- Advocacy of individual responsibility and participation for public benefit;
- Development and promotion of swift, flexible, coordinated and effective responses to specific social, cultural, environmental, educational, scientific, health and economic challenges which governments alone cannot address;
- Global and cross-frontier funding initiatives irrespective of size;
- Structured exchanges of ideas and dissemination of information on funding practice, administration, governance and corporate community investment;
- Reinforcement of the infrastructure of citizens' associations by the establishment of training, research and self-help programmes and facilities to underpin and stimulate organised independent funding; and
- Respect for openness and accountability within the rule of law.
By providing resources and undertaking operational projects, independent funders promote innovation, flexibility, diversity and voluntary citizen involvement. They have a proven ability to reach out to disadvantaged, minority and marginalised groups. They make a key contribution to the creation of open, democratic society and provide both the means and the motivation for active and compassionate citizenship.
To ensure a dynamic and accountable independent funding sector free from narrow national interests, the European Foundation Centre therefore calls on governments and European and international institutions to take all appropriate action to:
- Uphold the right of citizens to form new foundations and associations;
- Acknowledge a strong independent sector as an essential component of open civil society;
- Encourage individual and corporate community involvement; and
- Promote funding partnerships between the public, private and voluntary sectors.
Signed in Prague, Czech Republic on November 9, 1993 on behalf of the European Foundation Centre:
Horst Niemeyer, Chairman
Michael Brophy, Vice Chairman
John Richardson, Director