Registration of ECNL – European Center for Not-for-Profit Law

PUBLISHED: JULY 8, 2003

The International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL) is proud to announce the registration of its newest affiliate– the European Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ECNL).

ECNL was officially registered on June 19, 2003 as a public benefit company and has qualified as a “public benefit organization” under Hungarian law. ECNL is dedicated to promoting the strengthening of a supportive legal environment for civil society in Europe, by developing expertise and building capacity on legal issues affecting not-for-profit organizations and public participation. ECNL will inherit ICNL’s ten years of experience supporting civil society in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and will primarily focus on CEE countries, but will work throughout Europe.

ECNL will cooperate closely with ICNL on NGO law reform activities, including legislative initiatives, implementation activities, capacity-building and regional initiatives. Substantive priorities include (1) the legal framework for NGOs and civil society, (2) the financial sustainability of NGOs and civil society organizations, (3) the legitimacy of NGOs and civil society organizations, and (4) issues related to the legal framework for civil society and European Union enlargement.

ICNL would like to thank USAID for its tremendous support over the years – both its support of ICNL’s CEE-based program and its support of the creation of ECNL.