Civil Society Europe has raised concern over the European Commission’s plan to withdraw the European Cross-Border Associations (ECBA) Directive from its 2026 Work Programme. The proposal, developed by the now-dismantled social economy unit in DG GROW, was expected to create a long-awaited European Association Status, enabling non-profit organisations to operate more easily across borders. With over 3.8 million associations and 6 million employees in the EU, the sector argues that the Directive would support competitiveness, job creation, and essential social services. The withdrawal contradicts the Commission’s commitments to strengthen democracy and civic space, as the Directive would enhance cross-border cooperation and resilience for civil society, especially where civic space is under pressure. While Council discussions had slowed, there were no calls for abandoning the proposal, and the European Parliament had shown strong support. Read more here.
Source: CSE
