The Centre for European Volunteering (CEV) has reached out to its members, including MCVS, regarding the ECBA directive as the CSE has extended the deadline for signatures of the open letter calling on the European Commission not to withdraw the Directive, until 22 January, end of day.

CEV, as part of Civil Society Europe (CSE), has been attentively following the European Cross-Border Associations (ECBA) Directive. The Directive will create a new legal form within the national legislations for organisations with members from at least two Member States. This new legal form, which will have common European features but will be adapted to the reality of each Member State, will be recognised throughout the EU and be treated equally in all Member States. This will allow your organisation or your members to develop membership and activities cross-borders, benefitting from a common legal form that would be recognised and treated equally throughout the EU. The Directive is also the first time that the EU formally recognises the non-profit sector. 

While the Directive has been swiftly approved in the Parliament, it has been obstructed in the Council, and now the Commission has proposed to withdraw the Directive within six months. But nothing is lost! Public mobilisation and pressure from civil society on their national governments and the Commission can still reverse the decision and save the Directive, as it already happened in the past. 

CEV is encouraging all to spread the open letter with members, partners and colleagues! 

Deadline for signatures: 22nd January, end of day. Click HERE to sign the open letter.

CEV is also encouraging VOs to send an individual letter to the European Commission, based on the open letter. It should be addressed to the President of the European Commission ( Ursula.VON-DER-LEYEN@ec.europa.eu) and to the Commissioner Séjourné ( Stephane.SEJOURNE@ec.europa.eu), putting in cc their cabinets ( Bjoern.SEIBERT@ec.europa.eu, cab-sejourne-contact@ec.europa.eu and bertrand.l-huillier@ec.europa.eu).

You can find the letter CEV has sent attached HERE, which you can use as inspiration for your own letter.