The written declaration 84/2010 on the European statutes was initiated by Regina Bastos (EPP), Marc Tarabella (S&D), Renate Weber (ALDE), Pascal Canfin (Greens-EFA), and Marie-Christine Vergiat (GUE-NGL).

A European Foundation Statute (EFS) will allow foundations to develop their full potential in the internal market to address citizens’ needs and well-being and sustainable development.  The European Commission has started an impact assessment of a potential EFS and is due to present its conclusions this November.

Gerry Salole, Chief Executive Officer of the EFC, emphasised that support from the Members of the European Parliament is critical at this stage in the process, at a time when the Commission is reviewing which of the proposals set out in its Single Market Act (SMA) will be given priority and implemented by 2012.  The EFS is one of these 50 proposals. 

Rosa Gallego, Chair of DAFNE, stated “this is a clear recognition of the just nature of our demands, and another step forward to provide foundations with an appropriate legal framework that will allow them to better develop their activities and to strengthen their contribution to a more social Europe”.

The EFC and DAFNE have submitted their contributions to the European Commission public consultation on the SMA in which they strongly support the proposal to move forward with the Statute and give details of how they believe the Regulation on a European Foundation Statute should look.

As a growing sector, with more than 110,000 public benefit foundations operating in Europe and contributing over 100 billion euros annually, European foundations are making an important and lasting impact on socio-economic development in Europe and supporting innumerable citizens’ projects across the continent and around the globe.  Foundations have much to contribute, including multiple resources, expertise, flexibility and creativity.

If foundations are fully to support the EU’s goals for a “smart, sustainable and inclusive” growth in Europe, they need better legal backing, particularly with a growing number of them engaging in cross-border activities. A European Statute would enhance these efforts and deepen their impact. It would enable simpler management, more efficient administration, and increased mobility and responsiveness, while facilitating the pooling of expertise and resources in those areas that require increased scaling-up of funds and help Europe to meet global challenges.