We call on the Presidency of the Council of the European Union to support and approve the proposed directive on the European Cross-Border Association (ECBA).
The ECBA would give non-profit associations a European legal status, automatically recognized in all Member States, and guarantee access to funding and the ability to act across borders without legal or administrative obstacles.
This reform would offer real tools for European civil society to grow stronger, freer, and more connected.
Approving the ECBA means affirming freedom of association not just in principle, but in practice.
Supported by
• Eumans – Paneuropean Movement by Citizens’ Initiative (EU-wide organisation)
• My Voice, My Choice – European Citizens Initiative for free and accessible abortion across Europe
• Association for the European Citizens Initiative e.V. (EU-wide organisation)
• Stand Up for Europe (EU-wide organisation)
• Rights Reporter Foundation (EU-wide organisation)
• European Alternatives (France)
Labrisz Lesbian Association (Hungary)
• Rights Reporter Foundation (Hungary)
• European House Budapest (Hungary)
• Associazione Luca Coscioni (Italy)
• Natura Comune (Italy)
• Alpe Adria Green (Slovenia – International)
Read the Full Open Letter to learn more
Public Letter to the Presidency of the Council of the European Union
Subject: Approve the ECBA Directive – A Legal Tool to Unleash the Potential of European Civil Society
To the Presidency of the Council of the European Union:
We, the undersigned organizations and individuals, urge you to give full political support to the proposed directive establishing a European Cross-Border Association (ECBA).
This legal tool would offer a European status for non-profit associations wishing to operate across borders. Once registered in one Member State, an ECBA would automatically have a legal status in all others, and enjoy unhindered access to funding, both public and private. This is a game-changing opportunity for civil society organizations working to promote democratic participation, environmental action, social justice, cultural exchange, youth involvement, and countless other public interest goals.
Currently, associations that wish to work in more than one country face legal uncertainty, repetitive registrations, financial hurdles, and administrative delays. This discourages collaboration, limits outreach, and weakens the very fabric of civic Europe. The ECBA would remove these barriers and replace fragmentation with coherence and trust.
A European status would also give civic organizations greater visibility, protection, and credibility—especially in political or legal environments where civil society is under pressure. It would help level the playing field between for-profit companies, which already enjoy EU-wide legal forms, and the non-profit sector, which until now has been left behind.
Most importantly, the ECBA would unlock the potential of transnational cooperation. Civil society is one of the EU’s most vital democratic forces, yet its capacity to act beyond borders is still constrained. This new legal status would empower associations to work freely, build partnerships, and respond collectively to the shared challenges Europe faces—from climate to inclusion, from innovation to fundamental rights.
This directive is not only a matter of legal form. It is a concrete way to support freedom of association as a core European value, giving real meaning to the idea of a European public space where citizens and organizations can act together.
The proposal is ready. The civil society sector is mobilized. The benefits are clear.
We urge the Council to move forward with approval. Let us give Europe’s associations the legal tools they need to grow, collaborate, and thrive—across borders and for the common good.