The European Movement International (EMI) welcomes the EP written declaration 84/2010 on establishing a European Statute for Mutuals, Associations and Foundations. As one of the promoters of the European Alliance for the Statutes of the European Association (EASEA) the EMI shares the approach that the time is right to give practical substance to the freedom of associations at the European level and believes that the European Statutes will serve as an essential step in building a citizens’ Europe.
A regulation on a European Statute would seek to simplify processes such as administrative costs, registration in another country, the burden of proof imposed on associations from a member state seeking to become established in another member state and the problems involved in pooling financial resources on a cross-border basis within the EU.
Moreover, by its symbolic outreach, this statute would represent an official recognition of the legitimacy and the relevance of European associations’ collective voice within the European civil dialogue and a more participatory European democracy, along with the provisions of article 11 of the Lisbon Treaty.
The declaration was launched on 10 November 2010 by Marc Tarabella (S&D, B), Regina Bastos (EPP, P), Renate Weber (ALDE, RO), Pascal Canfin (Greens, F) and Marie-Christine Vergiat (GUE, F).
It has to be signed by a majority of the Members of the European Parliament, only then can it be forwarded to the European Commission.
The time limit for securing the signatures is 17 February 2011.
More information:

• http://www.easea.eu/pages/Arguments.html

• http://www.europeanstatuteswrittendeclaration.eu