Enlarging the Space for European Philanthropy
New study by Donors and Foundations Networks in Europe (DAFNE) and European Foundation Centre (EFC) focuses on the necessary evolution in EU norms to promote an adequate development of the philanthropic sector that contributes annually about 60 billion EUR to crucial social issues
Document sourceToday the Donors and Foundations Networks in Europe (DAFNE) and the European Foundation Centre (EFC) are launching the commissioned study “Enlarging the Space for European Philanthropy”, by Oonagh Breen, Professor of Law at UCD Sutherland School of Law.
Spending every year more than 60 billion EUR in public good such as education, health, science, environment, migration and integration, the philanthropy sector is a key pillar of European civil society. It helps address society’s most pressing questions, and furthermore promotes plurality and freedom as well as financing social innovation. But the operating environment for institutional philanthropy in parts of Europe is under threat: i.e., foreign funding restrictions, inconsistent cross-border philanthropy taxation schemes, harmful impacts of too rigid anti-terrorism/money laundering measures, and these are jeopardising the essential work of more than 140,000 European donors and foundations.
Massimo Lapucci, Chairman of the EFC and Secretary General of the Italian foundation Fondazione CRT, states: “EU treaties have hindered the development of appropriate legal vehicles to advance philanthropy on a pan-European basis. This DAFNE/EFC study offers possible ways to facilitate philanthropy across Europe.”