News and Updates

It seems that policy makers are hearing our sector’s concerns about the need to overcome barriers to cross-border philanthropy, both at the level of the European Commission and at the level of the European Parliament. There is an increasing acknowledgement of philanthropy and philanthropic organisations as key actors in moving several EU policy agendas forward for the public good and a willingness to reduce existing barriers. Philanthropy Advocacy is analysing ways forward – we will only know in a couple of weeks’ time if the new EU action will deliver for philanthropy – stay tuned!

The European Economic and Social Committee organised on Thursday, 4 November a conference on the developments in the EU in the area of fundamental rights and the rule of law in 2020-2021. The conferen...

At a conference, organised by the Diversity Europe Group of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) in partnership with Civil Society Europe and with the support of the EESC's Liaison G...

Philanthropy Advocacy submitted a contribution to the European Commission ́s consultations on the newpackage of legislative proposals to strengthen the EU’s anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) rules together with the partners from ECNL, Human Security Collective, CSE and EFA.

The European Parliament launched at its plenary of 21 October 2021 a debate on the need for “A Single Market for Philanthropy”. The debate was initiated by Vice-President Nicola Beer and MEP Ilhan Kyuchyuk. The aim of the resolution is to unlock the potential of philanthropy in the recovery and future of Europe, mobilising complementary private resources for the public good and facilitating cross-border giving and philanthropic action.

Last week the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights in Vienna held its annual conference Fundamental Rights Forum (FRF), which after last year's fully online edition, took a format of the hybrid event. FRF is a unique platform for dialogue about the most pressing human rights challenges that Europe faces today and one of the sessions of the conference "An EU civil society strategy: Why do we need it?" was organised by our member, the Hungarian Donors Forum. Veronika Móra, Hungarian Donors Forum, shares her insights in this blog post.

On October 13th Delphine Moralis spoke at the EU Social Economy week organised during the Slovenian Presidency. She outlines the diversity of the sector stating that philanthropy refers to foundation...

The Convention on the Conference on the Future of Europe a civil society run mechanism to collect civil society input into the Conference on the Future of Europe of which PA is part of is entering its...

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is considering amending Recommendation 24 (R.24) on the transparency and beneficial ownership of legal entities, and to that end put out a call for a public consultation on the white paper. Philanthropy Advocacy co-drafted the Global NPO Coalition’s input to this call together with other core group members, which was submitted in August. The for-profit approach cannot be applied to the civil society sector that by definition benefits the general public. A much more nuanced and risk based policy and emphasis on proportionality is needed in order not to breach standards of freedom of associations and fundamental rights.

Philanthropy Advocacy welcomes the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) ´s second report on Protecting civic space in the EU building on the previous one from 2018. You can also have a...

On 21 June 2021 the Polish Donors Forum (Polish Dafne member, represented in the PA LAC) organised the first from a serie of meetings within the project "Stronger voice of civil society organisation...

In a plenary resolution adopted on 10 June, MEPs note that the new conditionality instrument to protect the EU budget in force since 1 January 2021 applies also to the Resilience and Recovery Funds....

European Commission call for applications to join the new InvestEU Investment Committee:   The European Commission has issued a Call for applications for the selection of members of the Invest...

The Conference on the Future of Europe is going to kick off on 9 May  and while starting with some delay and issues concerning the vision, mandate, processes and set up, as well as too few engagement...

Missed our Legal and Policy Update for European Philanthropy? Read our wrap up! Watch the latest Brussels Beats report by Max von Abendroth and Hanna Surmatz. Hanna Surmatz touches upon Phil...

How is the new EU Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing policy (AML/CFT policy) to be potentially adopted already in May this year moving ahead? What are potential implications on the NPO and...

We are pleased to invite you to a discussion with the European Commission and colleagues from civil society on the new EU Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing policy and how this relates...

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) plenary yesterday adopted its Resolution “Involvement of Organised Civil Society in the National Recovery and Resilience Plans – What works and wh...

We are offering a full-time paid Policy and Communications Trainee for six months starting on 15 March 2021 or thereafter. You would support the Philanthropy Advocacy team at the Philanthropy House in...

By Elena Višnar Malinovská Head of Unit, Directorate-General for Climate Action, European Commission Philanthropy can play an important role in Europe’s green transition by supporting co...

Věra Jourová - Vice President of the Commission for Values and Transparency. Source - EP/Riccardo PAREGGIANI The European Commission has today announced it is triggering an infringement procedur...

Adoption of the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility On 10 February 2021, the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility Regulation was adopted in the European Parliament plenary session with a large m...

On February 3, Civil Society Europe has launched a Civil Society Convention on the future of Europe through a joint declaration claiming a space for civil society organisations in the Conference on...

Members of the European Parliament and representatives from the European Commission made a strong pledge to remove barriers to cross-border philanthropy and public benefit work at a webinar, hosted by...

Philanthropy Advocacy has already informed about the good news that €1.6 billion will be allocated for the period 2021 - 2027 within the CERV (the Citizenship, Equality, Rights and Values) programme...

We are pleased to announce the publication of the second round of country profiles within the frame of the Legal Environment for Philanthropy in Europe project. After the publication of profiles fo...

We invite you to join the PA team at a webinar, hosted by Renew Europe MEPs Nicola Beer and Ilhan Kyuchyuk, on "Philanthropy, non and not-for-profit organisations in Europe – how to unleash the...

by Hanna Stähle and Owen Morgan Ludwig Forrest is Head of International Philanthropy at the King Baudouin Foundation – one of the largest foundations in Europe and a major international foun...

By Hanna Hanses The Covid-19 pandemic has already highlighted existing inequalities and will continue to impact our societies’ economic and social structures. The European Union’s recovery fund...

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has now made it possible for foundations and other non-profit organisations to directly share materials and provide submissions ahead of FATF countries' mutu...

by Hanna Surmatz A new Turkish counter terrorism law - "Law on Preventing Financing of Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction”, which was approved in a speedy process and entered into f...

European Council President, Charles Michel, and Portuguese Prime Minister, António Costa, meet in Libson in January at the start of the Portuguese Presidency of the Council. CREDIT: ANTÓNIO PEDRO S...

Have you signed up to the #Philanthropy4good newsletter? Our bi-monthly legal and policy update for European philanthropy features: Expert legal and policy analysis News, opinion and ev...

Seen from today, the COVID-19 pandemic is here to stay for quite some time. In recent months, the relationship between governments and civil society has evolved quite a lot under the influence of...

EU leaders gather at the European Council summit on 10th DecemberPhoto Credit: Dario PIGNATELLI | © European Union 2020 - Source: European Council by Hanna Hanses At the end of their last Summ...

Dr Oonagh B. Breen - University College Dublin This week saw the launch of the 5th Edition of the Legal and Fiscal Country Profiles, under the joint auspices of EFC and DAFNE, acting through Phil...

Last week, the European Commission presented its European Democracy Action Plan (EDAP) with a view to empowering citizens and building more resilient democracies across the EU. The PA Secreta...

We are happy to invite you to the long awaited presentation and discussion with experts of the “Legal Environment for Philanthropy in Europe”, focusing on cross-border philanthropy. At the eve...

by Hanna Surmatz While the European Council reached an agreement on the largest package ever financed through the EU budget, totalling €1.8 trillion, Poland and Hungary have now done what the...

Following a discussion of economics and finance ministers on 4 November 2020, the Council adopted conclusions on anti-money laundering and terrorism financing efforts. These provide the Commiss...

David SASSOLI, EP President, gives a press conference on the EU Budget. Picture Credit: DAINA LE LARDIC | © European Union 2020 - Source : EP By Hanna Hanses EU decision making rolling on Y...

Trilogue negotiations over the MFF taking place in Brussels - © Emilie GOMEZ | European Union 2020 - Source : EP On 10 November 2020, the European Parliament and EU Member States in the Council,...

The European Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ECNL) and Philanthropy Advocacy (a joint Dafne & EFC initiative) will host a webinar looking at “How to Use EU Law to Protect Civic Space” on 17...

There is a 'window of opportunity now' to unleash private resources for public good across Europe, according to Vice-President of the European Parliament, Nicola Beer. Following her participati...

Today, Max von Abendroth, Executive Director of DAFNE, and Delphine Moralis, CEO of the European Foundation Centre, have written to Ms. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, Mr....

After the European Commission published last week its long awaited Rule of law report, today the European Parliament has become the second European institution to directly express an urgent need f...

PRESS RELEASE Brussels, 2 October 2020 – On 1 October, the European Day of Foundations and Donors, over 100 key European policy makers and representatives of public benefit foundations and civil...

Philanthropy Advocacy together with Civil society Europe and the European Center for Non Profit Law have issued a joint reaction to the 2020 Annual Rule of Law Report on the situation of the rule of l...

The European Commission´s European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) has issued the 2020 EIDHR Global Call for Proposals on Shrinking civic, democratic and civil society space. The...

Over the past decade, the state of European core values such as democracy, rule of law and fundamental rights have been in decline in parts of Europe and therefore we welcome that the European Union i...

The President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen delivered her first State of the Union speech during the European Parliament´s Plenary session yesterday on 16 September 2020. She presen...

The European Parliament and the philanthropy and wider civil society sector are aligned that EU and national anti money laundering and terrorism policy must not unduly restrict the sector The Europ...

Worrisome developments in parts of Europe as well as globally have been seen recently, with questions being raised about the legitimacy of philanthropy and civil society actors, and intentional limita...

EU Fundamental Rights Agency issued a worrying report Verbal threats, physical attacks, and lack of funding are some of the main challenges for civil society organisations working on human rights in...

In January 2020 a group of 62 Bulgarian civil society organisations addressed the European Commissioners with a letter in which they described the smear campaign taking place in Bulgaria against CSO...

PA welcomes the launch of the Europe’s first online Transnational Giving Platform by Transnational Giving Europe Network that will facilitate cross-border philanthropy by allowing individuals and c...

During the COVID-19 pandemic, philanthropic organisations across the continent acted as frontline defenders to provide urgent support to the most vulnerable segments of our society. When it comes to r...

European Court declares that Hungary's foreign-funding restrictions violate EU law On 18 June 2020 the European Court of Justice (CJEU) ruled that Hungary's foreign-funding restrictions violate EU...

European governments & COVID-19and EU COVID-19 Recovery schemes & Policy   European governments & COVID-19   Introduction This d...

At a time when civil dialogue and our own democratic and societal models are facing new threats such as the rise of populism, disinformation, inequality and Euroscepticism, the European Economic and S...

On 29 April 2020, the European Commission launched yet another infringement procedure against Poland by sending a Letter of Formal Notice to the government regarding the new law on the judiciary of 2...

The European Commission announced that it commits to directly supporting the healthcare systems of the EU Member States in their fights against the coronavirus pandemic, channeling resources through t...

EESC President and President of the EESC Group on Fundamental Rights and the Rule of Law call on respecting fundamental rights in the time of crisis. In their joint statement two presidents acknowledg...

European Philanthropy calls for effective solidarity across borders concerning COVID 19   In an open letter dated 8 April 2020, DAFNE and the EFC have called on the Presidents of the EU insti...

The Coronavirus outbreak is not only a severe emergency for public health with significant social impact but also a major economic shock to the European Union, calling for a decisive coordinated econo...

DAFNE and EFC invite foundations to come together to sign the European Philanthropy Statement on COVID-19, recognising that the COVID-19 outbreak is an exceptional event that will have an unprecedente...

A group of 62 Bulgarian civil society organisations addressed the European Commissioners with a letter in which they described the smear campaign taking place in Bulgaria against CSOs, mainly targetin...

Please find herwith a letter of the Dutch Minister of Legal Protection, Sander Dekker, from 18 October 2019 addressing the House of Representatives of the Netherlands, titled “Political approach to...

Philanthropy Advocacy (DAFNE and EFC) join the Bulgarian Donors Forum and other civil society organisations from across Europe to condemn action against the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee in an open let...

Brussels, 30 September 2019 – On 1 October MEPs and key stakeholders will gather at the European Parliament to debate how to release philanthropy’s untapped potential for public good across Europe...

The Philanthropy Manifesto was presented by the EFC to a group of foundations from Luxembourg at an event organised by Fondation de Luxembourg on 23 September, along with insights into the FAT...

In July this year, the EU published its 2019 Supranational Risk Assessment (SNRA). Philanthropy Advocacy, a joint initiative of DAFNE and the EFC, and its joint Legal Affairs Committee as well as othe...

The philanthropic sector, represented by Hanna Surmatz from the EFC on behalf of the wider philanthropic infrastructure (WINGS), engaged with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) about the latest in...

The Active Citizens Fund has released an open letter calling on EU decision-makers to protect European values as outlined in Article 2 of the EU Treaty, with a specific call to protect the space for c...

ERSTE Stiftung has recently published a video featuring Verena Ringler, Director of European Commons, in which she calls for a single market for the non-profit sector in the EU. The second episode...

The EFC is looking for a full-time Philanthropy Legal Officer to join the joint DAFNE-EFC Philanthropy Advocacy project, which promotes an enabling operating environment for institutional philanthropy...

The Commission has decided on a series of measures to further strengthen the rule of law in Europe following a consultation to which Philanthropy Advocacy (DAFNE and EFC) contributed. The announcement came on 17 July.

At a pre-conference event ahead of the 9th International Research Conference of the European Research Network on Philanthropy (ERNOP) a group of researchers and practitioners came together...

Philanthropy is still relatively unknown to EU institutions and needs to find its right place on the European agenda. In its first opinion entirely dedicated to philanthropy, the European Economic an...

EFC/DAFNE involved in working on more guidance On 5th June 2019, the EC has published its report on the implementation of the EU Charter on Fundamental Rights by the EU institutions and the Member St...

Guest post  on Alliance Magazine by Massimo Lapucci, Secretary General of Fondazione CRT and Chair of the EFC On 20 March, in the presence of over 60 representatives from the EU institutions, the...

Guest post  on Euractive.com by Felix Oldenburg, CEO of the Association of German Foundations and Chair of DAFNE  DAFNE and EFC present Philanthropy Manifesto with demands and promises. In just o...

Brussels, 26 February 2019 – Responding to the recently proposed act on transparency of civil society organisations in the Netherlands, the EFC and DAFNE have filed a joint contribution to the onlin...

The next round of EU Supra National Risk Assessment (SNRA), in the context of the Anti-Money Laundering Directive, starts with a first meeting with the philanthropic sector on the 30th November, pleas...

The recording from the 17 October webinar on ”How philanthropy can engage with FATF in shaping counter-terrorism and money laundering policies” with the EFC, Global NPO Coalition and WINGS is...

In her capacity as EFC Policy and Programmes Director, Maria Orejas has been appointed to the European Commission Expert Group on Social Economy and Social Enterprises. The group is a newly formed ven...

The EFC and DAFNE continue to engage jointly with the European Commission about the European Values Instrument, which is considered an important tool to defend democracy, human rights, core European v...

At the beginning of the year, the European Commission developed a proposal to reform the VAT system by introducing more flexibility for Member States to change the VAT rates. It will now be crucial to...