The Expert Council carries out thematic and country studies on specific aspects of NGO legislation and its implementation that seem to pose problems of conformity with international standards, notably the European Convention on Human Rights and the Recommendation (2007)14 on the legal status of NGOs in Europe. Its work covers the 46 member countries of the Council of Europe and Belarus.

It was created in January 2008 by the Conference of INGOs of the Council of Europe with the aim of creating an enabling environment for NGOs through examining national NGO legislation and its implementation and providing advice on how to bring national law and practice into line with Council of Europe standards and European good practice.

The Expert Council provides follow-up to a Recommendation adopted in 2007 by the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers which sets a framework for the legal status of NGOs in Europe (CM/Rec(2007)14) and to the Council of Europe's commitment to the role of civil society in the promotion of democracy, human rights and the rule of law. It co-operates closely with other Council of Europe bodies, in particular the Venice Commission and the Commissioner for Human Rights

 Expert Council on NGO Law Brochure

 Key documents

• Terms of reference
• Recommendation (2007)14 of the Committee of Ministers to member states on the legal status of non-governmental organisations in Europe - exists also in the following languages : Azerbaijani, Belarusian, Czech, French, German, Italian, Russian and Spanish
• European Convention on Human Rights

 Current members of the Expert Council

• Biographies of the members
• Contact Jeremy McBride for further information
  President of the Expert Council on NGO Law

 Studies by the Expert Council

Thematic studies

• Civil society support to refugees and other migrants in Europe: the need to end the backlash on civil society space (2024)
• Stigmatisation of Non-Governmental Organisations In Europe (2024)
• Non-Governmental Organisations and the Implementation of Measures Against Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (2022)
• The Execution of Judgments Involving Freedom of Association (2022)
• The Legal Space for Non-Governmental Organisations in Europe (2021)
• Young Environmental Defenders and Their Rights (2021) in English and in Russian
• European practices related to participation of NGOs in Policy Development (2021)
• Guidelines on Protecting NGO Work in Support of Refugees and Other Migrants in English (2020) and in Russian
• Using Criminal Law to Restrict the Work of NGOs Supporting Refugees and Other Migrants in Council of Europe Member States in English (2019) and in Russian
• Compendium of opinions adopted by the Expert Council on NGO Law (2018)
• International Standards Relating to Reporting and Disclosure Requirements for Non-Governmental Organizations (2018)
• Compendium of Council of Europe practice relating to the right to freedom of association and the position of non-governmental organisations (2018)
• Regulating political activities of NGOs
• Conditions of establishment of NGOs
• Internal governance of NGOs
• Sanctions and liability in respect of NGOs

Review of developments in standards, mechanisms and case law

• Review of developments in standards, mechanisms and case law related to NGOs 2017-2019 (2020)
• Review of developments in standards, mechanisms and case law 2015-2017
• Review of developments in standards, mechanisms and case law 2013-2015
• Review of developments in standards, mechanisms and case law 2010-2013

Country studies

Georgia - Opinion on the draft law of Georgia on Transparency of Foreign Influence (2024) - In English / In French / In Georgian

  Croatia - Opinion on the Compatibility of Amendments to the Croatia Law on Associations and the Law on Foundations with European Standards (2023) - In English / In Croatian

 Italy - Opinion on the compatibility with European standards of Italian Decree Law No. 1 of 2 January 2023 on the management of migratory flows (2023) - In English / In Italian

Belarus - Opinion on the compatibility with international and regional standards of recent  amendments to the Belarusian legislation affecting NGOs (2022) - In English / In Belarusian

 France - Opinion on the compatibility with the European standards of the French Bill to ensure respect for the principles of the republic by all (Mar 2021) - In English / In French

 Russia - Opinion on the compatibility with European standards of recent and planned amendments to the Russian legislation affecting NGOs (Feb 2021) - In English / In Russian

 Greece - Addendum to thr Opinion on the compatability with European standards of recent and planned amendments to the Greek legislation on NGO registration (Nov 2020) - In English / In Greek

 Greece - Opinion on the compatability with European standards of recent and planned amendments to the Greek legislation on NGO registration (July 2020) - In English / In Greek

Turkey - Opinion on the compatibility of amendments to the Turkish law on associations with European standards (2020) - In English / In Turkish

Serbia - Opinion on the Draft Amendments to the Serbian Law on Access to Information of Public Utility (2018) - In English / In Serbian

Turkey - Opinion on the impact of the state of emergency on Freedom of Association in Turkey (2017) - In English / In Turkish

Hungary - Opinion on the Hungarian Draft Act on the Transparency of Organisations supported from abroad (2017) - In English

Romania - Opinion on the Romanian Draft Law 140/2017 on Associations and Foundations (2017) - In English

Cyprus - Civil Society in Cyprus: Building for the Future (2015) - In English

Russian Federation - Country study on NGO legislation in the Russian Federation (2015/2014/2013) - In English

Azerbaijan - Country study on NGO legislation in Azerbaijan (2014/2011/2009) - In English