On 28 April 2010, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) gave a clear and strong  backing to the European Foundation Statute by adopting with a large majority of the votes an own initiative opinion in favour of the Statute. 

It  urges the European Commission to present a proposal for a Regulation on a European Foundation Statute to support public benefit activities for its adoption by the Council and the European Parliament in due course. The opinion will now be shared with other EU Institutions for follow-up action.

The opinion was prepared by Mall Hellam, EESC member and Executive Director of the Open Estonia Foundation, with technical support of the EFC secretariat.

The opinion stresses that a review of needs and opportunities confirms the necessity for a European company law project for foundations which would offer them an adapted instrument to facilitate their activities in the internal market.  It also recalls that a European Foundation Statute has been repeatedly called for by the foundation sector and its representative organisations and networks at EU-level[1] as the most cost-effective solution for addressing cross-border barriers and thereby stimulating foundation activities across Europe. It will also make cross-border operations, donations and cooperation smoother by providing an efficient management tool for public-benefit purposes, while offering a recognised European label. 

The EESC believes that the European Foundation Statute is an essential instrument to bring citizens to the heart of the internal market and bring Europe closer to the people. It further envisions that the EFS can serve as a new mechanism to support European public good and citizen actions, and address major European socio-economic concerns and pressing needs in such fields as knowledge and innovation; medical research; healthcare and social services; the environment and regional development; employment and vocational training; the conservation of natural and cultural heritage; the promotion of the arts and cultural diversity; and international cooperation and development. 

Finally, the opinion set out some reflections and proposals on the development of a European Statute adapted to foundations, and proposes guidelines which could govern such a Statute. In particular, in order to make it effective and attractive, the new Statute will have to provide clear and comprehensive rules regarding setting-up, operations and supervision and have a genuine European dimension.

The full text of the opinion can be downloaded here 

For further information, please contact Emmanuelle Faure at eu@efc.be