European Treaty Series - No.

124

EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON THE RECOGNITION OF THE LEGAL PERSONALITY OF INTERNATIONAL NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS

Strasbourg, 24.IV.1986

ETS124LegalpersonalityofNGOs,24.IV.1986

Preamble ThememberStatesoftheCouncilofEurope,signatorieshereto, ConsideringthattheaimoftheCouncilofEuropeistoachieveagreaterunitybetweenits members,inparticularforthepurposeofsafeguardingandrealisingidealsandprinciples whicharetheircommonheritage; Recognisingthatinternationalnongovernmentalorganisationscarryoutworkofvaluetothe international community, particularly in the scientific, cultural, charitable, philanthropic, healthandeducationfields,andthattheycontributetotheachievementoftheaimsand principlesoftheUnitedNationsCharterandtheStatuteoftheCouncilofEurope; Desiringtoestablishintheirmutualrelationsruleslayingdowntheconditionsforrecognition ofthelegalpersonalityoftheseorganisationsinordertofacilitatetheiractivitiesatEuropean level; Haveagreedasfollows: Article1 This Convention shall apply to associations, foundations and other private institutions (hereinafterreferredtoasNGOs)whichsatisfythefollowingconditions:
a b c d

haveanonprofitmakingaimofinternationalutility; havebeenestablishedbyaninstrumentgovernedbytheinternallawofaParty; carryontheiractivitieswitheffectinatleasttwoStates;and havetheirstatutoryofficeintheterritoryofaPartyandthecentralmanagementand controlintheterritoryofthatPartyorofanotherParty.

Article2
1

Thelegalpersonalityandcapacity,asacquiredbyanNGOinthePartyinwhichithasits statutoryoffice,shallberecognisedasofrightintheotherParties. When they are required by essential public interest, restrictions, limitations or special proceduresgoverningtheexerciseoftherightsarisingoutofthelegalcapacityandprovided forbythelegislationofthePartywhererecognitiontakesplace,shallbeapplicabletoNGOs establishedinanotherParty. Article3

Theproofofacquisitionoflegalpersonalityandcapacityshallbefurnishedbypresentingthe NGO'smemorandumandarticlesofassociationorotherbasicconstitutionalinstruments. Such instruments shall be accompanied by documents establishing administrative authorisation,registrationoranyotherformofpublicityinthePartywhichgrantedthelegal

ETS124LegalpersonalityofNGOs,24.IV.1986

personality and capacity. In a Party which has no publicity procedure, the instrument establishingtheNGOshallbedulycertifiedbyacompetentauthority.Atthetimeofsignature orofthedepositoftheinstrumentofratification,acceptance,approvaloraccession,theState concernedshallinformtheSecretaryGeneraloftheCouncilofEuropeoftheidentityofthis authority.

Inordertofacilitatetheapplicationofparagraph1,aPartymayprovideanoptionalsystemof publicitywhichshalldispenseNGOsfromfurnishingtheproofprovidedforinthepreceding paragraphforeachtransactionthattheycarryout. Article4 IneachPartytheapplicationofthisConventionmayonlybeexcludediftheNGOinvoking thisConvention,byitsobject,itspurposeortheactivitywhichitactuallyexercises:

a

contravenes national security, public safety, or is detrimental to the prevention of disorderorcrime,theprotectionofhealthormorals,ortheprotectionoftherightsand freedomsofothers;or jeopardisesrelationswithanotherStateorthemaintenanceofinternationalpeaceand security.

Article5
1

ThisConventionshallbeopenforsignaturebythememberStatesoftheCouncilofEurope whichmayexpresstheirconsenttobeboundby:
a b

signaturewithoutreservationastoratification,acceptanceorapproval,or signature subject to ratification, acceptance or approval, followed by ratification, acceptanceorapproval.

Instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval shall be deposited with the Secretary GeneraloftheCouncilofEurope. Article6

ThisConventionshallenterintoforceonthefirstdayofthemonthfollowingtheexpirationof aperiodofthreemonthsafterthedateonwhichthreemember StatesoftheCouncilof EuropehaveexpressedtheirconsenttobeboundbytheConventioninaccordancewiththe provisionsofArticle5. InrespectofanymemberStatewhichsubsequentlyexpressesitsconsenttobeboundbyit, theConventionshallenterintoforceonthefirstdayofthemonthfollowingtheexpirationof a period of three months after the date of the deposit of the instrument of ratification, acceptanceorapproval. Article7

4
1

ETS124LegalpersonalityofNGOs,24.IV.1986

AftertheentryintoforceofthisConvention,theCommitteeofMinistersoftheCouncilof EuropemayinviteanyStatenotamemberoftheCounciltoaccedetothisConvention,bya decisiontakenbythemajorityprovidedforinArticle20.doftheStatuteoftheCouncilof EuropeandbytheunanimousvoteoftherepresentativesoftheContractingStatesentitledto sitontheCommittee.

ETS124LegalpersonalityofNGOs,24.IV.1986

InrespectofanyaccedingState,theConventionshallenterintoforceonthefirstdayofthe monthfollowingtheexpirationofaperiodofthreemonthsafterthedateofdepositofthe instrumentofaccessionwiththeSecretaryGeneraloftheCouncilofEurope. Article8

Any Statemay at the time ofsignature or when depositing itsinstrument ofratification, acceptance,approvaloraccession,specifytheterritoryorterritoriestowhichthisConvention mayapply. AnyStatemayatanylaterdate,byadeclarationaddressedtotheSecretaryGeneralofthe CouncilofEurope,extendtheapplicationofthisConventiontoanyotherterritoryspecified inthedeclaration.InrespectofsuchterritorytheConventionshallenterintoforceonthefirst dayofthemonthfollowingtheexpirationofaperiodofthreemonthsafterthedateofreceipt ofsuchdeclarationbytheSecretaryGeneral. Anydeclarationmadeunderthetwoprecedingparagraphsmay,inrespectofanyterritory specified in such declaration, be withdrawn by a notification addressed to the Secretary General.Thewithdrawalshallbecomeeffectiveonthefirstdayofthemonthfollowingthe expirationofaperiodofthreemonthsafterthedateofreceiptofsuchnotificationbythe SecretaryGeneral. Article9 NoreservationmaybemadetothisConvention. Article10

AnyPartymayatanytimedenouncethisConventionbymeansofanotificationaddressedto theSecretaryGeneraloftheCouncilofEurope. Such denunciation shall become effective on the first day of the month following the expirationofaperiodofthreemonthsafterthedateofreceiptofthe notificationbythe SecretaryGeneral. Article11 TheSecretaryGeneraloftheCouncilofEuropeshallnotifythememberStatesoftheCouncil andanyStatewhichhasaccededtothisConvention,of:
a b c d

anysignature; thedepositofanyinstrumentofratification,acceptance,approvaloraccession; anydateofentryintoforceofthisConventioninaccordancewithArticles6,7and8; anyotheract,notificationorcommunicationrelatingtothisConvention.

In witness whereof the undersigned, being duly authorised thereto, have signed this Convention.

ETS124LegalpersonalityofNGOs,24.IV.1986

Done at Strasbourg, this 24th day of April1986, in English and French, both texts being equallyauthentic,inasinglecopywhichshallbedepositedinthearchivesoftheCouncilof Europe.TheSecretaryGeneraloftheCouncilofEuropeshalltransmitcertifiedcopiestoeach memberStateoftheCouncilofEuropeandtoanyStateinvitedtoaccedetothisConvention.