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

Council of Europe standards and case-law on civil society

• The Execution of Judgments Involving Freedom of Association (2022)
• The Legal Space for Non-Governmental Organisations in Europe (2021)
• Compendium of Council of Europe practice relating to the right to freedom of association and the position of non-governmental organisations (2018)

The legal space and functioning of NGOs

• Non-Governmental Organisations and the Implementation of Measures Against Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (2022)
• International Standards Relating to Reporting and Disclosure Requirements for Non-Governmental Organizations (2018)
• Regulating NGOs: a Compendium of opinions adopted by the Expert Council on NGO Law (2018)
• Regulating political activities of NGOs (2015)
• Sanctions and liability in respect of NGOs (2011)
• Internal governance of NGOs (2010)
• Conditions of establishment of NGOs (2009)

Participatory democracy

• European practices related to participation of NGOs in Policy Development (2021)

Work with migrants and refugees

• Civil society support to refugees and other migrants in Europe: the need to end the backlash on civil society space (2024)
• Guidelines on Protecting NGO Work in Support of Refugees and Other Migrants in English (2020) and in Russian

Stigmatisation of NGOs

• Stigmatisation of Non-Governmental Organisations In Europe (2024)
• 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

Other documents

• Information brochure on Young Environmental Defenders and Their Rights (2021) in English and in Russian

Review of developments in standards, mechanisms and case law

• Non-Governmental Organisations: Review of Developments in Standards, Mechanisms and Case Law 2020-2024 - published on 31 January 2025
• 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