European Center for Not-for-Profit Law Stichting
Recent meetings
| Date | Commissioner / Cabinet | Topic | File |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Feb 2025 | Lucie Šestáková Cabinet member | Discussing the future of civil society engagement and funding | — |
| 19 Feb 2025 | Lucie Šestáková Cabinet member | Discussing the future of civil society engagement and funding | SRC |
| 20 Nov 2023 | Maurits-Jan Prinz Cabinet member | AI Act | — |
| 20 Nov 2023 | Maurits-Jan Prinz Cabinet member | AI Act | SRC |
| 06 Jul 2023 | Simona Constantin Cabinet member | Defence of Democracy | — |
| 06 Jul 2023 | Simona Constantin Cabinet member | Defence of Democracy | SRC |
| 20 Jan 2023 | Maurits-Jan Prinz Cabinet member | Scope of the EU AI Act | — |
| 20 Jan 2023 | Maurits-Jan Prinz Cabinet member | Scope of the EU AI Act | SRC |
| 11 Jan 2023 | Lucrezia Busa Cabinet member | artificial intelligence | — |
| 11 Jan 2023 | Lucrezia Busa Cabinet member | artificial intelligence | SRC |
| 15 Nov 2022 | Werner Stengg Cabinet member | Artificial Intelligence Act. | — |
| 15 Nov 2022 | Werner Stengg Cabinet member | Artificial Intelligence Act. | SRC |
Mission & Goals
The European Center for Not-for-Profit Law Stichting (ECNL) is a team of dedicated, bold and creative legal experts, analysts, and activists committed to protecting and expanding the space for people to gather, organise and take action for a better world. We focus on the laws, policies, processes and practices that enable our spaces for action. Over the last 20 years, we have tenaciously worked to protect the rights that empower people to achieve change and actively participate in democratic and civic life. ECNL’s strategic goals are: 1. Spaces for collective action are enhanced and protected, 2.Civil society is sustainable and influential, 3. Civil society is mobilised and supported, 4. Civil society has foresight and tools to anticipate and address trends.
EU Legislative Interests
Integrating civic freedoms’ protections in digital-related regulation and implementing documents; Involvement on policy level to support the enabling environment of civil society and fundamental rights in EU and its external relations: Anti-money laundering; Data protection; Defense of Democracy; European Cross-Border Association; anti-SLAPP, Civil Society Strategy, MFF. In addition, we have continuously contributed to the EU Supra National Risk Assessments since 2017.
Communication Activities
Integrating civic freedoms’ protections in digital-related regulation: As part of a broad CSO coalition, we have been calling for safeguards to protect against the misuse of AI systems, and the involvement of civil society in AI policy processes. (e.g.: https://ecnl.org/news/eu-governments-vote-final-text-eu-ai-act-whats-stake; https://ecnl.org/publications/human-rights-impact-assessments-are-key-effective-dsa-enforcement; https://ecnl.org/news/packed-loopholes-why-ai-act-fails-protect-civic-space-and-rule-law) We are members of EDRi (https://edri.org/). Furthering EU policies to help shape an enabling environment for civil society: ECNL engages with EU bodies in developing the Civil Society Strategy, tools for providing resources to civil society, tools to detect early signs of closing civic space, including the use of digital technologies and counter-terrorism measures, and innovative citizen participation tools. ECNL also provided expertise to DGs to develop case studies on how EU delegations can address enabling environment issues. In addition, we supported the EP work on civic space by contributing to the EP reports on shrinking civil society space in developing countries, participating in EP hearings on this topic. We advocate for the importance of EU institutions investing in strengthening social and civil dialogue: https://ecnl.org/news/new-project-enhance-cso-and-citizen-participation-eu-decision-making We develop educational materials for CSOs and legal practitioners on these topics, e.g. a handbook on how EU law can be used to protect civic space: https://ecnl.org/publications/updated-handbook-how-use-eu-law-protect-civic-space. Further, we raised awareness about challenges CSOs face as EU countries transpose the EU AML Directive. Data protection: ECNL analysed how the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation affects the CSO sector: http://ecnl.org/data-protection-fundraising/ Joint submission on the Defence of Democracy package: https://ecnl.org/news/defending-democracy-clarity Anti-SLAPP Directive: We are members of The CASE Coalition. https://www.the-case.eu/ Contribution to the Civil Society Strategy: https://ecnl.org/news/anchoring-civil-space-heart-eu-policy-architecture
Interests Represented
Does not represent commercial interests
Member Of
https://ecnl.org/our-networks
Organisation Members
https://ecnl.org/our-networks