The European Parliament adopted a Declaration on establishing European statutes for mutual societies, associations and foundations.

Members consider that associations, mutual societies and foundations contribute to the diversity of entrepreneurship by providing a distinctive business model based on core values, namely solidarity, democratic supervision and preferring social objectives over gain. Consequently, they believe there is a need to create a ‘level playing field’ that provides associations, mutual societies and foundations with instruments and opportunities equivalent to those available to other organisational legal structures, thereby giving a European dimension to their organisation and activities.

The European Parliament calls on the Commission to: (i) take the necessary steps to introduce proposals for European statutes for associations, mutual societies and foundations; (ii) propose a feasibility study and an impact assessment for the statutes for associations and mutual societies; (iii) complete the impact assessment for the statute for foundations in due course.