ECNL submitted comments to the draft Voluntary Guidelines for EU based Nonprofit Organizations. The draft Guidelines were developed by the Directorate-General for Home Affairs of the European Commission (DG HOME).
The draft Guidelines were presented at the third conference on "Enhancing Transparency and Accountability of the Non-Profit Sector" which took place in July in Brussels. This is one of the initiatives set out in the Commission Action Plan implementing the Stockholm Programme, the new multiannual programme which will guide EU action in the area of freedom, security and justice for the period (2010-2014). DG Home will review comments and proposals in the autumn and will decide upon the next steps in the first half of 2011.
In its comments, ECNL highlights its belief that there is a need to further clarify the approach, intended purposes, scope, and usage of the draft Guidelines. ECNL also recommends a process that will involve cross sector input and development of on-going capacity to interpret and assist the application of the Guidelines.