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CEDAG - Comité Européen des Associations d'intérêt Général - European Council for non-profit organisations

CEDAG

Since 1989, CEDAG, the European council for associations of general interest (Comité européen des associations d’intérêt général) is a European network that provides a voice for the non-profit sector at the European level and to European institutions, on specific issues which are common to all non-profit organizations and associations.

Lobbying Activity

Response to EU Civil Society Strategy

5 Sept 2025

CEDAG welcomes the European Commissions consultation on the future EU Civil Society Strategy and submits the following recommendations: 1. Empower Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in macro-regions through dedicated EU platforms and the Directive on the European Cross-Border Associations. 2. Foster Member State alignment via concrete national implementation plans. 3. Prioritize CSO roles in communication, inclusion, and democratic participation. CEDAG stands ready to collaborate with the European Commission and other stakeholders in shaping and delivering a robust, future-proof EU Civil Society Strategy. Please find as attached the full contribution of CEDAG to the European Commissions consultation on the future EU Civil Society Strategy.
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Response to Proposal for a Directive on cross-border activities of associations

7 Apr 2024

Since its creation in 1989 and as per its mandate and missions, CEDAG as membership-based organisation has built a longstanding expertise and rationale in favour of legislative initiatives aiming at adopting a statute for European non-profit organisations (NPOs). In that regard, CEDAG contributed to the previous consultation (3 November 2022) on the European Parliament (EP) Resolution of 17 February 2022 with recommendations to the Commission on a statute for European cross-border associations and non-profit organisations. CEDAG also co-signed the Joint Civil Society Position Paper on the European Parliament Proposal for a European Association Statute (10 February 2022), as well as two joint letters to Commissioner Breton (4 May 2023 and 20 July 2023). As part of the hereby consultation on the Directive proposal on European Cross-Border Associations (ECBA), CEDAG has been instrumental in contributing to the following feedback: Broad coalition of civil society and non-profit organisations (4 March 2024) Social Services Europe (28 February 2024) Social Economy Europe (11 December 2023) The attached contribution of CEDAG refers to the proposal of the European Commission (EC) for a Directive on ECBA. (COM(2023) 516 final) adopted on 5 September 2023 and contains references to Draft EP legislative Resolution on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on ECBA (COM(2023)0516 C90326/2023 2023/0315(COD)).
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Response to Proposal for a Directive on cross-border activities of associations

3 Nov 2022

CEDAG - The European Council for Non-profit Organizations (Comité européen des associations dintérêt général) had been established more than 30 years ago as a network to provide a voice for non-profit organisations at a European level. CEDAGs mission is to work on specific issues which are common to all non-profit organisations and associations; both from the perspective of civil society actors and of providers of services of general interest. CEDAG has built a longstanding rationale in favour of legislative initiatives aiming at adopting a statute for European non-profit organisations (NPOs). CEDAG hence welcomed the European Parliament (EP) Resolution of 17 February 2022 with recommendations to the Commission on a statute for European cross-border associations and non-profit organisations, and its two legislative proposals. CEDAG also welcomes the European Commission (EC) for its commitment to develop a legislative act. To support and feed this legislative proposal, CEDAG also greets the various studies and reports that the EC commits to launch. EU action is well needed. The Commission legislative initiative should be more ambitious and include a clear and positive definition of the non-profit sector and its organisation, covering both dimensions of civil dialogue and the provision of services of general interest. In addition to associations, the legislative proposal of the EC should address all NPOs, including foundations. The profit non-distribution constraint and the governance that characterise NPOs enable them to be both providers of services of general interest and of key actors of civil dialogue and participative democracy. Associations and foundations are also facing similar barriers for their cross-border activities (e.g., recognition of the legal personality, moving of the seat, merging, etc.). Hence, narrowing the legislative proposal down to associations would not only potentially exclude targeted organisations but would also potentially weaken the vitality and innovation of both civil society actors and democratic space, and of (essential) non-profit economic actors. In terms of legislative and policy options, CEDAG considers that the facilitation of cross-border activities of associations and other NPOs can only be addressed by creating a dedicated European legal form. The most adequate legislative initiative for associations and foundations is a European legal framework. With the need of further clarification, we could also welcome the proposal of the Commission to consider the creation of an additional legal form for NPOs in national law to be recognised in other Member States jurisdictions by mutual recognition. This European legal instrument should aim at providing NPOs, especially associations and foundations, with the right enabling legal environment to support their role as social, civil and economic actors in the European Union. This European legal instrument should be attractive, accessible, simple and comprehensible for all European NPOs and citizens to both facilitate their cross-border activities, support civil society and recognise their contribution to the general interest. As a complementary measure, the establishment of core minimum standards for European NPOs enshrined in fundamental rights could be possibly envisaged; by covering key principles related to constitutive and governance rules, the profit non-distribution and the autonomous management. Finally, a European information campaign on NPOs that would aim at strengthening cooperation among Member States could be a supportive option to complement and accompany the previous legislative and policy options. We are confident that the Commission will consider developing an ambitious legislative initiative proposal in cooperation with relevant civil society and the social economy actors, including CEDAG, to discuss and explore the best legislative and policy option for the general interest of European societies.
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