Statute for a European Association

The European institutions have been studying a proposition (Com(91) 273/1 and 2 final, Official Journal C99 of 21/04/1992) since 1991 to create a statute for a European Association. This statute would enable non-profit organisations and associations to operate and be recognised throughout the European Union, allowing them:
- to develop a real European civil society
- to overcome the obstacles to freedom of association that persist in certain member states.

However, on 27th September 2005 the European Commission included this proposition in a black list (MEMO/05/340) of 68 propositions to be withdrawn because they have become largely obsolete or, as you have said, red tape.

At a time when Europe is going through a major democratic crisis, after the Dutch and French rejections of the European Constitution, this initiative from the Commission seems paradoxical, explains Nicola DellArciprete, President of Babel International, in his article published 6th October on the European magazine cafй babel. To him, and to all the other citizens who hope for a more democratic Europe, European associations are not red tape, rather they deserve the red carpet!

In addition, associations make up an important part of the social economy sector that, far from having a negative impact on competition in Europe, provides an immeasurable service to its economy and society. According to a communication by the Commission on The promotion of the role of associations and foundations in Europe, associations in Germany, for example, employ 10\% of the total service sector employees.

Babel International, the association that edits cafй babel (www.cafebabel.com), already presented a petition to the European Parliament on 11th June 2002 requesting the statute for a European association to be put in place.
Today, we ask you to remove the proposition for a statute for a European association from the list of red tape legislation and to call, with all your authority, on the European Council to approve this statute as soon as possible, by rolling out the red carpet for them. Its urgent for associations, its urgent for democracy in Europe!

Read this petition in IT FR ES CA DE