The EFC monitors developments regarding EU competition law, which may have an impact on the work of foundations at the national level. The ECJ case on Italian banking foundations has shown that public benefit foundations with a tax-exempt status which pursue economic activities, either directly or through another legal entity as shareholders, can be in conflict with EU law. For more information concerning this issue:

EFC Legal Seminar Report of 5th February 2007 (84kb)

EFC Briefing “Competition Law is an Issue for Public Benefit Foundations" (120kb)

The EFC cooperates with the competition working group of Social Economy Europe  and has reported on a series of cases where foundations were confronted with investigations for unfair competition practices.

>Go to Social Economy Europe website