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Philanthropy Europe Association

Philea

Philea represents over 10,000 foundations across 30+ countries working to improve communities in Europe and globally.

Lobbying Activity

Meeting with Marie-Helene Boulanger (Head of Unit Justice and Consumers) and European Fundraising Association and France générosités

4 Dec 2025 · Implementation of the political advertising regulation (TTPA) and the effect it has on the organizations

Philea urges dedicated entry point to EU external budget

28 Nov 2025
Topic — The consultation gathers feedback on EU funding for external action post-2027.
Message — Philea requests a dedicated entry point for coordination and co-investment with EU external programs. They advocate for safeguards to protect small-scale grants that support local civil society. They also call for mainstreaming equality principles across the budget.12
Why — A coordination mechanism would let foundations influence EU funding design and strategic partnerships.3
Impact — Small-scale local organizations lose vital support if the EU prioritizes large co-investments.4
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Response to EU’s next long-term budget (MFF) – EU funding for cross-border education, training and solidarity, youth, media, culture, and creative sectors, values, and civil society

25 Nov 2025

Introduction and summary In a new geopolitical context and challenges to democracy and civic space, the founding values of Article 2 of the Treaty of the European Union including democracy, rule of law and fundamental rights safeguarded in the EU Charter on Fundamental Rights should remain a priority for the European Union policy and next funding priorities and we hence welcome a strong AgoraEU and Erasmus plus. At a time when Europes security and defence require stronger democratic resilience and more effective responses to disinformation, advancing EU technological sovereignty is essential. Civil society plays a crucial role in this effort by promoting European tech alternatives based on transparency, accountability, and fundamental rights. This involvement is vital to ensuring that technological innovation enhances both our democratic systems and the collective security of the Union. Philanthropic organisations promote ideas and innovation, convene and build bridges and act as catalysts for new initiatives. Philanthropy plays a key role in supporting civil society, democracy, rule of law and fundamental rights as well as education, young people and disadvantaged groups etc. A unique characteristic of philanthropy is its ability to respond in real time to the critical challenges facing our societies, while simultaneously taking a longer-term view. The contribution of philanthropic organisations is significant. There are more than 175,000 philanthropic organisations in Europe with an accumulated annual expenditure of 75 billion. The combined assets of European public-benefit foundations is over 500 billion. Foundations vary greatly by size, geographical remit and missions. They value their flexibility and autonomy but also working in partnership with others including the public sector. We are pleased to submit some general and more specific comments to the MFF consultation on AgoraEU and Erasmus plus programs by the deadline of Nov.25, 2025: COM(2025)549, COM(2025)550 In the previous MFF consultation, we called for stronger support to civil society in challenging contexts, and for more strategic dialogue and better structured collaboration between EU institutions and philanthropic foundations around civic space and beyond. Foundations bring territorial reach, funds management and operational capacities, making them ideal partners in programmes like AgoraEU and Erasmus+, especially in areas such as youth, citizenship, democracy, and culture. We highlighted their role in reaching smaller organisations, supporting grassroots initiatives, promoting a cross-sector approach and inclusive participation. We also recommended simplifying procedures, clarifying regranting rules, and enabling co-financing mechanisms to leverage philanthropic resources. A central entry point and more flexible, multi-annual funding models are essential to unlock this potential. We welcome the overall budget increase under these programmes, as well as the efforts to simplify their structure. We want to raise the following points to your attention: #1. Philanthropy needs a clear entry point to discuss, co-design and co-invest in EU priorities #2. Safeguards are needed to protect small-scale public granting #3. Mainstreaming of do no significant harm principle (DNSH) and of gender equality and non-discrimination across most of the MFF #4. Merging programmes and funds under broader umbrellas risks undermining diversity and accessibility in EU funding #5. Erasmus+ should be strengthened and reframed, to better encompass youth-led activities #6. EU programmes like Erasmus+ and AgoraEU must support the ecosystem that enables their implementation #7. Improve the synergy of the AgoraEU programme with Horizon Europe and the European Competitiveness Fund #8. Specific ideas for the AgoraEU programme taking into account the EU Civil Society Strategy and the Culture Compass for Europe
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Philea Urges EU to Partner with Philanthropy in Future Budget

12 Nov 2025
Topic — Consultation on the post-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework focusing on EU funding for competitiveness.
Message — Philea calls for a single entry point to enable strategic dialogue and co-investment between foundations and EU programs. They request earmarked funding for small-scale grants to protect local civil society actors. Additionally, they urge the EU to recognize culture and the social economy as key drivers of competitiveness.123
Why — Foundations would gain a formal role in EU governance and more flexible ways to invest capital.4
Impact — Local civil society groups risk losing vital support as funding shifts toward private co-investment models.56
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Philea urges EU to include philanthropy in budget co-design

29 Oct 2025
Topic — This consultation gathers views on the design of the post-2027 long-term budget.
Message — Philea seeks a single entry point for foundations to co-design and co-invest in EU priorities. They also urge the Commission to include safeguards for small-scale grants and maintain sector-specific funds.12
Why — A structured interface would allow foundations to influence EU work programmes and co-investment.34
Impact — Small civil society groups could be marginalized by the shift toward private co-investment.56
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Meeting with Magda De Carli (Head of Unit Research and Innovation)

15 Oct 2025 · Introduction of DG RTD, Phylea work and objectives on possible ways of collaborations between DG RTD and philanthropic organisations

Philea urges including foundations in new EU legal framework

30 Sept 2025
Topic — A consultation on a harmonized legal framework for innovative European companies.
Message — Philea argues the new legal framework must include mission-driven foundations instead of just companies. They also advocate for including non-EU entities and listed firms.12
Why — Foundations would reduce administrative burdens and navigate the single market more effectively.34
Impact — Member States lose their individual veto power over the new legal framework.5
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Philea urges EU to create Single Market for Philanthropy

5 Sept 2025
Topic — The consultation aims to develop a comprehensive framework for supporting and protecting civil society actors.
Message — Philea calls for an enabling environment and a Single Market for Philanthropy. They advocate for a binding framework and systematic civic space impact assessments. They also request predictable support and simplified administrative procedures for civil society funding.123
Why — This would eliminate obstacles to cross-border funding and ensure stable tax incentives for foundations.45
Impact — National governments would face limits on restricting foreign funding or imposing domestic reporting requirements.67
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Response to Mid-Term Review: Social Economy Action Plan

16 Jul 2025

The philanthropy and foundation sector as represented by the Philanthropy Europe Association (Philea) is very pleased with the launch and implementation of the European Commission Social Economy Action Plan (SEAP) as a true break through recognition and mobilisation tool for the Social Economy (SE) including the foundation sector as one of the four SE families. Philea has been actively contributing to its drafting and implementation to date and is eager to continue into the next phase. As Philea, we are also engaging as a board member of Social Economy Europe (SEE) around the wider social economy agenda and with the civil society community on issues of common concern. We are also a member of the European Expert Group on Social Economy (GECES) and have also been contributing to the SEAP and the current mid-term evaluation in this context. Our contribution focuses on the specific foundation and philanthropy perspective on how we assess the mid-term evaluation of the SEAP, while also supporting a separate contribution from SEE. We submit our contribution with detailed answers to the European Commission questions in the attached PDF
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Response to Mid-term review of the Charter strategy

8 Jul 2025

We celebrated the 2020-2030 European Commission Strategy to strengthen the application of the Charter in the EU. The philanthropy/foundation sector that we represent plays a key role in promoting the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and is also itself protected by Charter rights (e.g. freedom of association and freedom of expression) and hence also suffering from restrictions to those very Charter Rights. While the Charter is not legally binding for candidate countries, we consider that it has also important influence beyond EU borders, which could be further strengthened. We welcome the Strategys acknowledgement of the important role [of civil society organisations and human rights defenders] in promoting the use and awareness of the Charter and a culture of values, based on the rule of law, democracy and fundamental rights. We share the Strategys concern that civil society organisations and human rights defenders are however facing an increasing number of challenges, which include regulatory constraints and difficulties in accessing funding. Philanthropy and foundations are on the one hand also civil society actors in their own right but they also play a crucial role in supporting other civil society organisations and Human rights defenders promoting the charter rights. Philanthropy space has also been shrinking over the past years with attempts to introduce foreign funding restrictions or cuttings of incentives for philanthropy, limiting their space to contribute to policymaking or engage in political activities or introduction of overly rigorous reporting requirements. Attacks and threats to the civil society space impinge on the ability for philanthropy to operate to its full potential, and various laws and policies hamper philanthropys abilities to pool resources, scale up and collaborate across the European landscape. We see that closing civil society and philanthropy space is on the rise in several European countries and that regular monitoring and analysis of national level developments and a more robust and coherent implementation of EU law to defend this space are needed. Of particular relevance to protect our own philanthropy sector and the wider civil society sector are the freedoms of association and expression, which include the ability to donate across-border (for associations to access funding) and to set up associations and foundations and to run them without undue restrictions. As per the annual rule of law report, to which Philea contributes with its own perspectives, freedom of association and freedom of expression are not fully respected in all Member States and also developments at EU level severely weaken civil society, restricting their capacities to engage democratically, advocate and hold governments and the EU accountable. These restrictions also shrink the philanthropy space. Complex reporting requirements; restrictions on supporting human rights activities or political activities; overly tight anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing laws; unfair tax treatment of foundations and non-recognition of legal personality across borders; and foreign agent types of laws all place barriers for the free flow of philanthropic funding across borders, significantly reducing the reach and impact of philanthropy and undermining European coordinated efforts to address pressing societal issues. We welcome that a set of actions, policies and monitoring mechanisms have been developed at European level to support the strengthening of the contribution of philanthropy and civil society space including: EU Social Economy Action Plan; Proposed Directive on European Cross Border Associations; Proposed co-investment mechanisms within InvestEU; Defence of Democracy Package; Rule of Law annual report; Upcoming Civil Society Strategy and Civil Dialogue Platform; Upcoming European Democracy Shield.
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Response to European Democracy Shield

26 May 2025

Philea welcomes the proposal for a Democracy Shield as a potential important contribution to enhancing democratic participation, protection, resilience and recognition of civil society, including philanthropy organisations as key actors in this space. We expect the initiative to be consistent with the European Commission Annual Rule of Law report and fully compliant with the Charter of Fundamental Rights and we also understand that it will complement and be consistent with the European Democracy Action Plan of 2020 and the Defense of Democracy Package of 2023 as well as other relevant EU initiatives to promote democracy with a sine qua non condition around the protection of fundamental and human rights. Key comments on the suggested four pillars: 1. Countering disinformation and foreign information manipulation and interference must be addressed with a toolbox that is in line with our core values such as democracy, rule of law and fundamental rights. The call for evidence indicates disinformation and foreign information manipulation and interference as one of the main targets. The foreign interference approach is clear also in the proposed Directive on interest representation on behalf of third countries. As we have underlined in earlier analyses of the Directive, the Directive is not only ineffective in tackling malign foreign interference and risks of being weaponised, both within and outside of the EU, as an excuse to crack down on foreign-funded civil society, but it misses the point that disinformation, information manipulation and interference attempts do not come only from outside of the EU, but can be also domestically sourced. Disinformation and information manipulation, furthermore, does not limit to domestic politics of Member States, but it can also reach the EU level and influence the discussion around EU legislation and policies. Similarly, the resilience of electoral processes rests on the consensus on the procedural fairness of the elections and in its results - disruption on such consensus can come both from foreign or domestic sources. We therefore propose an approach of countering disinformation, information manipulation and interference and disruption of electoral processes axed on transparency, support of independent institutions, fact-checking, and institutional and civic electoral resilience and recommend to withdraw the current proposed Directive on third-country interest representation but to invest in independent fact-checking platforms, supporting cross-country and regional synergies, and providing official partnerships for elections. 2. Ensuring the fairness and integrity of electoral processes and the strengthening of democratic frameworks and checks and balances, including free, plural and independent media and civil society organisations, Prioritising equality in all aspects and enhancing access to democratic participation are also crucial to defending democracy. In this sense, the Shield should supplement the European Democracy Action Plan and align with the European Pillar of Social Rights by introducing a pillar dedicated to promoting and defending accessible, inclusive elections to ensure active citizenship, equal democratic participation, as well as gender balance and inclusivity in politics and decision-making. For the need to ensure philanthropy and civil society freedoms. 3.Philanthropy is happy to contribute to efforts to strengthen societal resilience and preparedness, media literacy and critical thinking. For example, community foundations' can play a role in societal resilience and preparedness. 4.Philanthropy is engaging in different initiatives to foster citizens participation and engagement. We would also like to stress that in addition to citizens engagement, organised civil society has a key role to play to participate and engage in societal issues. Please see our full contribution in the attached PDF.
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Response to Policy agenda for cities

23 May 2025

Philea Philanthropy Europe Association welcomes the opportunity to contribute to an ambitious EU agenda for cities to leverage clear entry points for philanthropy towards common objectives with the EU around an urban agenda that works for people and the planet. With Europe being the continent with the highest number of registered public benefit foundations, we believe that the EU agenda for cities should consider the potential added value of 175,203 public-benefit foundations with combined assets of 516bn and a total annual expenditure of 76bn. The 2024 Philea Manifesto recognises philanthropy as a vital actor in society in supporting democracy, equality, sustainability and solidarity and green and digital transitions in Europe and globally. It calls for an enabling environment for philanthropy to work in partnership with others to address systemic challenges. The EU agenda for cities provides a timely opportunity to make that partnership and collaboration more tangible, with philanthropy contributing in different ways and roles. Most foundations and philanthropic organisations are embedded in territories and their missions have a territorial dimension to issues such as housing, climate action, digitalisation, mobility, social inclusion and equality. Philanthropic organisations bring unique added value and partnerships to the EU through their long-term commitment to move societal issues, their ability to take risks and test out innovative solutions as well as their connections to the local level. Our latest research on philanthropys involvement in the EU Cities Mission demonstrates that philanthropy is already engaging at the city level to support cities journey towards climate neutrality yet shows that a more systematic and tailored strategy to onboard philanthropy with the Mission Cities is required. Similarly, we call for an ambitious EU agenda for cities that considers philanthropys unique value proposition: Long-term perspective and risk appetite; Innovation & early-stage financing (social enterprises, digital inclusion, health); Core and flexible funding (esp. for watchdogs, neglected groups and places, fragile contexts); Trust-based and participatory approaches; Ability to work with both the public and the private sectors, and be part of public-private-philanthropy partnerships; Ability to support informal actors, including those outside EU funding systems. The philanthropic sector is diverse and philanthropic organisations/foundations can have different entry points into an ambitious EU Agenda for Cities depending on the size, mission and approach of the foundation. When thinking of the MFF, up until now philanthropic organisations have been considered mostly at the same level as other CSOs and not so much at the level of co-designers or co-investors. They have resources, knowledge, experience and operational capacity that can improve the impact of European programmes at local level. Considering them as key players of the EU Agenda for Cities means: Increasing the amount, the effectiveness and the efficiency of funds available on European territories Getting closer to citizens' needs and making EU action more impactful at local level. EU foundations are active in specific territorial or thematic areas, have solid governance structures, have a large capital base, have solid track-record and procedures in granting activities; Capitalizing at EU level the experience of foundations and philanthropic organisations in the field of social innovation. These organisations are experimenters in social innovation and are attentive and flexible in adapting to the needs of their respective territories and areas of expertise. A possible model to involve foundations in the co-management and co-financing of EU funds has already been developed by the call Horizon Europe Framework Partnership Agreement for a European Networked Catalyst Fund for Social Innovation in Support of the Missions
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Meeting with Marc Lemaitre (Director-General Research and Innovation) and

25 Apr 2025 · Second meeting of the European Startup and Scaleup Forum. Discussion on the draft building blocks of the EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy structured along the identified obstacles and possible solutions.

Response to 2025 Strategic Foresight Report

19 Mar 2025

Philea is pleased to contribute to this important initiative to engage citizens and stakeholders in shaping EU decision-making through strategic foresight is both timely and necessary. As global challenges such as climate change, demographic shifts, economic inequalities, and technological disruptions continue to evolve, it is crucial that the EU adopts a long-term, evidence-based approach to resilience-building. However, for Europe to fully harness collective intelligence and build a resilient future, the Commission must foster an enabling environment that allows philanthropy, civil society, and other stakeholders to act and engage alongside policymakers as partners. The European Philanthropy Manifesto outlines the critical steps needed to create a Single Market for Philanthropy, reducing administrative, legal, and fiscal barriers that currently restrict cross-border philanthropic action. This aligns directly with the EUs strategic foresight agenda, as foresight requires multi-stakeholder collaboration, long-term investments, and adaptive policy frameworks to anticipate and address emerging challenges effectively. By empowering, facilitating, engaging, and partnering with philanthropy, the EU can unlock new sources of funding, innovation, and expertise that enhance its foresight-driven policymaking. A well-integrated philanthropic sector would play a critical role in futures thinking, enabling greater cross-border collaboration on scenario planning, supporting research and experimentation in resilience-building, and scaling social innovation. Philanthropys capacity for long-term, risk-tolerant investments complements the EUs foresight efforts by funding pilot programs, emerging technologies, and systemic interventions that might otherwise fall outside traditional policy cycles. By removing barriers to cross-border collaboration, the EU can better leverage philanthropy as a foresight partner, ensuring that long-term resilience strategies are informed by diverse societal perspectives and adaptable to future uncertainties. As Philea we are committed to pluralistic, just and resilient societies that centre people and planet. Our cross-cutting themes are democracy, climate and equality and, in this spirit, we consider that the Startup and Scaleup Strategy should contribute to maintaining high social, participatory and environmental standards.Our publication, Futures Philanthropy: Anticipation for the Common Good, is a source of unique insights into the forward-looking, risk-taking and innovative potential of philanthropy and how funders are acting for Europes today and tomorrow.
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Response to EU Start-up and Scale-up Strategy

17 Mar 2025

Philea, the Philanthropy Europe Association, represents 7,500 philanthropic organisations from across Europe, united in contributing to pluralistic, just and resilient societies that centre people and planet. Philanthropy refers to foundations, philanthropic organisations, corporate and individual funders using their own financial and non-financial resources for the public good. Philanthropic organisations support programmes in areas from which we all benefit, such as education, health, science, research, environment, culture and international development. Philea also hosts a group of Enterprise Foundations. These foundations, in addition to their philanthropic activities, own some of Europe's largest enterprises, thereby ensuring the long-term ownership and sustainability of these highly successful companies. The competitiveness of these European-based enterprises is crucial to the prosperity of Europe. Therefore, initiatives aimed at improving or strengthening their competitiveness are both fundamental and highly significant. II. General remarks and call to create a single market for public good Philea is pleased to contribute to this important European Commission consultation on an EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy. In this context we would like to stress our key ask to move towards a European Single Market for public good, which also provides a level playing field for foundations and other public benefit organisations when acting and investing in the single market and being able to support the ecosystem of start-ups and scale-ups in Europe by nurturing connections between academia and business, which has been identified as a gap in the consultation meeting of stakeholders, to which Philea has contributed. As Philea we are committed to pluralistic, just and resilient societies that centre people and planet. Our cross-cutting themes are democracy, climate and equality and, in this spirit, we consider that the Startup and Scaleup Strategy should contribute to maintaining high social, participatory and environmental standards. Our publication, Futures Philanthropy: Anticipation for the Common Good, is a source of unique insights into the forward-looking, risk-taking and innovative potential of philanthropy and how funders are acting for Europes today and tomorrow. We echo the political guidelines 2024-2029 of European Commission President von der Leyen as well as recent reports by Enrico Letta and Mario Draghi stating that creating a truly integrated single market is critical for the European Union's future. We welcome that the political guidelines call for a new momentum to complete the single market preserving the social market economy model and strengthening the EU founding principles. We welcome the fact that Commissioner Zaharieva has been tasked with developing a Startup and Scaleup Strategy that improves the framework conditions for start-ups and scale-ups. Our main call is that this Startup and Scaleup Strategy should include social economy actors including foundations/philanthropic organisations and aim to remove red tape and barriers for them, given the important role of social economy, including the foundation sector, in the single market (8% of GDP). Foundations/philanthropic organisations are key actors in the single market with their contributions to addressing societal issues and moving innovation and research and exploring new ideas. Foundations are also playing a key role as investors of their endowments into European markets in holding smaller and larger European companies as Enterprise Foundations. The communication should include the perspective to reduce the regulatory and administrative barriers faced by foundations especially when operating and investing their endowments across-borders and with the aim to leverage their investments.
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Meeting with Cristina Dias (Cabinet of Commissioner Maria Luís Albuquerque), Philippe Thill (Cabinet of Commissioner Maria Luís Albuquerque)

10 Mar 2025 · Exchange with Philea on the role and potential of philanthropy in supporting investments in the EU economy

European philanthropists urge social value over lowest-price procurement

7 Mar 2025
Topic — Evaluation of EU rules for public contracts and concession awards for services.
Message — The organization requests that public procurement prioritize social value over the lowest price by making the most economically advantageous tender the default standard. They call for expanding social award criteria and maintaining reserved contracts for organizations supporting disadvantaged groups. They also advocate for mandatory accessibility requirements and adjustments to address VAT discrimination against non-profits.123
Why — Philea would enjoy fairer competition and improved access to government contracts by removing financial and regulatory barriers.45
Impact — Commercial firms that rely on a lowest-cost model would lose their current competitive advantage over non-profit bidders.67
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Response to Savings and Investments Union

7 Mar 2025

I. Who we are Philea, the Philanthropy Europe Association, represents 7,500 philanthropic organisations from across Europe, united in contributing to pluralistic, just and resilient societies that centre people and planet. Philanthropy refers to foundations, philanthropic organisations, corporate and individual funders using their own financial and non-financial resources for the public good. Philanthropic organisations support programmes in areas from which we all benefit, such as education, health, science, research, environment, culture and international development. Philea also hosts a group of Enterprise Foundations. These foundations, in addition to their philanthropic activities, own some of Europe's largest enterprises, thereby ensuring the long-term ownership and sustainability of these highly successful companies. The competitiveness of these European-based enterprises is crucial to the prosperity of Europe. Therefore, initiatives aimed at improving or strengthening their competitiveness are both fundamental and highly significant. As Philea, we are also actively engaging as a board member of Social Economy Europe (SEE) around the wider social economy agenda and also with the wider civil society community on issues of common concern. We are a member of the European Commission Expert Group on Social Economy (GECES) and have also been contributing to the social economy agenda from the perspective of philanthropy and foundations in this context. We will focus on the specific philanthropy/foundations perspective, while we are also supporting a separate contribution from Social Economy Europe and from Impact Europe. II. General remarks and call to create a single market for public good Philea is pleased to contribute to this important European Commission consultation on a European Savings and Investments Union. In this context we would like to stress our key ask to move towards a European Single Market for public good, which also provides a level playing field for foundations and other public benefit organisations when acting and investing in the single market. We echo the political guidelines 2024-2029 of European Commission President von der Leyen as well as recent reports by Enrico Letta and Mario Draghi stating that creating a truly integrated single market is critical for the European Union's future. We welcome that the political guidelines call for a new momentum to complete the single market preserving the social market economy model and strengthening the EU founding principles. We welcome the fact that Commissioner Albuquerque has been tasked with developing a Savings and Investments Union that aims to leverage private savings and to foster capital for innovation and to harness sustainable finance. Our main call is that this Savings and Investments Union should include social economy actors including foundations/philanthropic organisations and aim to remove red tape and barriers for them, given the important role of social economy, including the foundation sector, in the single market (8% of GDP). Foundations/philanthropic organisations are key actors in the single market with their contributions to addressing societal issues and moving innovation and research and exploring new ideas. Foundations are also playing a key role as investors of their endowments into European markets in holding smaller and larger European companies as Enterprise Foundations. The communication should include the perspective to reduce the regulatory and administrative barriers faced by foundations especially when operating and investing their endowments across-borders and with the aim to leverage their investments. We provide an analysis of our key arguments and our call to action in the annex to this contribution.
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Philea Urges EU to Facilitate Cross-Border Philanthropy

31 Jan 2025
Topic — The consultation seeks to identify and remove regulatory barriers within the European Single Market.
Message — Philea calls for a single market for public good by reducing cross-border barriers. They request a new legislative initiative for foundations and mutual recognition of tax-exempt organisations.123
Why — Foundations would experience significantly lower costs and easier cross-border operations.45
Impact — Member States lose revenue and the power to restrict foreign funding.67
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Response to Proposal for a Directive on cross-border activities of associations

4 Apr 2024

We as Philea clearly welcome the proposed Directive for the establishment of a European Cross-Border Association (ECBA) as an important step in the direction of creating a level playing field for the public-benefit sector and for strengthening civil society space in Europe. The Directive proposal does not, however, cover the wider non-profit sector and foundations nor comes in package with minimum standards for the wider non-profit organisations (NPO) sector as originally suggested by the European Parliament and the civil society and social economy sector. Foundations, as legal entities, can create an ECBA but they cannot convert into an ECBA and the ECBA proposal does not provide for the creation of a European Cross-border Foundation. The Directive also does not address the tax barriers that hamper philanthropic activities across borders. Philanthropy and philanthropic organisations are a critical part of democratic and pluralistic societies. Institutional philanthropy in Europe includes more than 186,000 philanthropic organisations with an accumulated annual expenditure of nearly 60 billion euros, and there are millions of individual and corporate donors who donate small and larger amounts to good causes. Philanthropic organisations and donors work increasingly across borders and in collaboration with partners, yet they are challenged by various administrative, legal and fiscal barriers when doing so. A single market for philanthropy and public good does not yet exist and the ECBA will only address some of these barriers. We hence call on EU policymakers to create a Single Market for Philanthropy by creating a legal from for foundations and by better implementing the non-discrimination principle announced in the Social Economy Council Recommendation The November 2023 Council Recommendation on developing the social economy framework conditions includes a clear call to Member States to overcome barriers to cross-border philanthropy, and we are now asking for follow up action. We argue that European philanthropy could be expanded much more if a single market for philanthropy existed. If there was greater clarity regarding administrative and taxation procedures, simpler rules around the comparability criteria, and support for foreign public-benefit organisations and donors seeking to navigate the issue of comparability, see also our 2023 updated European Philanthropy Manifesto. Having said that, we believe that the ECBA certainly is an important tool to unlock potential of non-profits in Europe and to overcome existing cross-border barriers. The ECBA can help unlocking the potential and can support the essential contributions of civil society organisations be they associations or foundations including not-for-profit providers of social services, as part of the social economy to our democratic societies across Europe be an important tool to support and mobilise citizens' collective engagement for the public good. be a helpful instrument to support and ease trans-national operations of NPOs including foundations will also facilitate cross-border activities of European federations, networks and other transnational activities of NPOs set certain standards regarding key features of the ECBA such as governance, membership, funding, etc. We believe that the ECBA could potentially also serve as a benchmark for national laws. We are pleased that the proposed Directive is not overly prescriptive. It appears to be flexible enough to fit into the different national situations and the diversity of NPOs. We welcome the logic of mutual recognition used and the equal/non-discriminatory treatment of the ECBA to already registered non-profit associations in EU Member States also in cross-border contexts.
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Meeting with Věra Jourová (Vice-President) and

6 Jul 2023 · Defence of Democracy

Meeting with Didier Reynders (Commissioner) and

24 Apr 2023 · Defence of democracy

Meeting with Renaud Savignat (Cabinet of Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen)

31 Mar 2023 · Exchange on Africa-EU partnership

Meeting with Věra Jourová (Vice-President) and Transparency International Liaison Office to the European Union and

17 Mar 2023 · Defence of democracy package

Meeting with Santina Bertulessi (Cabinet of Commissioner Nicolas Schmit)

6 Dec 2022 · Participation at the Philea event to celebrate the one year anniversary of the Social economy action plan.

Meeting with Santina Bertulessi (Cabinet of Commissioner Nicolas Schmit)

29 Jun 2022 · Philanthropy

Meeting with Sergey Lagodinsky (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur)

14 Jun 2022 · Associations Statute

Meeting with Santina Bertulessi (Cabinet of Commissioner Nicolas Schmit)

16 Mar 2022 · Social society and social economy

Meeting with Maria Luisa Cabral (Cabinet of President Ursula von der Leyen) and Donors and Foundations Networks in Europe

8 Nov 2021 · Social Economy Action Plan Conference on the Future of Europe

Meeting with Chris Uregian (Cabinet of Vice-President Margaritis Schinas) and Donors and Foundations Networks in Europe

8 Sept 2021 · Philanthropy

Meeting with Estelle Goeger (Cabinet of Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni) and Donors and Foundations Networks in Europe

6 Sept 2021 · Barriers to philantropy's cross border activity

Meeting with Anouk Faber (Cabinet of Commissioner Nicolas Schmit), Fabien Dell (Cabinet of Commissioner Nicolas Schmit), Santina Bertulessi (Cabinet of Commissioner Nicolas Schmit) and Donors and Foundations Networks in Europe

6 Sept 2021 · Barriers to philanthropy's cross border activity

Meeting with Agnieszka Skonieczna (Cabinet of Commissioner Thierry Breton), Joan Canton (Cabinet of Commissioner Thierry Breton) and Donors and Foundations Networks in Europe

2 Sept 2021 · Social economy

Meeting with Margaritis Schinas (Vice-President) and

14 Jul 2021 · Philanthropy

Meeting with Věra Jourová (Vice-President)

10 Jul 2020 · Support of Media

Meeting with Jutta Urpilainen (Commissioner) and European Youth Forum and

20 Feb 2020 · Africa Strategy

Meeting with Carlos Moedas (Commissioner) and

25 Sept 2019 · Lunch Meeting organized by the European Foundation Centre

Meeting with Jean-Eric Paquet (Director-General Research and Innovation)

10 Jul 2019 · Single Market for Philanthropy

Meeting with Alvaro De Elera (Cabinet of First Vice-President Frans Timmermans) and Donors and Foundations Networks in Europe

28 May 2019 · Rule of Law

Meeting with Keith Sequeira (Cabinet of Commissioner Carlos Moedas)

15 Feb 2019 · Research partnerships with Foundations

Meeting with Themis Christophidou (Director-General Education, Youth, Sport and Culture)

11 Jan 2019 · Meeting to present their activities

Meeting with Ruth Paserman (Cabinet of Commissioner Marianne Thyssen)

8 Nov 2018 · Making the European Pillar of Social Rights Real

Meeting with Thomas Zerdick (Cabinet of First Vice-President Frans Timmermans) and Donors and Foundations Networks in Europe and Bundesverband Deutscher Stiftungen

21 Nov 2017 · Exchange of views on Civil Society Organisations

Meeting with Aurore Maillet (Cabinet of Vice-President Karmenu Vella)

5 Apr 2016 · Cicrular Economy