Overview
On June 22nd, the Allianz Stiftungsforum Pariser Platz organised an expert panel to review issues related to the European Commission’s consultation on the development of a European Foundation Statute. The panel, which was chaired by Rupert Graf Strachwitz, Director of the Maecenata Institute for Philanthropy and Civil Society at Humboldt University, Berlin consisted of:
- Wilhelm Krull, Volkswagen Foundation
- Albrecht Lempp, Foundation for German-Polish Cooperation
- Marjut Leskinen, European Commission
- Hanna Surmatz, European Foundation Centre
- Daryl Upsall, EUConsult
Experts acknowledged that the foundation sector in Europe is growing also in terms of cross-border and multilateral work. For example two-thirds of the EFC’s members were working beyond the borders of their home country in 2007. Individual and corporate donors are also becoming more mobile, increasing their assets or investments in several countries. But international foundation work is currently hampered by barriers in civil and tax law. The feasibility study on a European Foundation Statute estimated that current barriers cost European foundations around 100 million euros per year. The European Foundation Statute is suggested by the feasibility study as the best policy option for addressing cross-border barriers and stimulating foundations activities.
Marjut Leskinen stated that the feasibility study was well written and very comprehensive. However, more information would be appreciated for some of the aspects, in particular with regard to concrete cases of existing barriers and if already established foundations would actually use such a European legal tool.
To read the full briefing, go to: 
EFC Briefing befc 0950