Independent non-governmental organisations as FEDE are a vital component of European society, guaranteeing freedom of expression and association both of which are fundamental to democracy.
Recognising their influence, the Council of Europe provides international NGOs (INGOs) with the opportunity to acquire participatory status.
Participatory status is granted to INGOs which are particularly representative in the field(s) of their competence at European level, and which through their work are capable of supporting the achievement of closer unity as stated in Article 1 of the Statute of the Council of Europe, by contributing to its activities and by publicising its work among European citizens. At present some 320 INGOs hold the status.
Co-operation with INGOs holding participatory status takes many forms, from simple consultation to full-scale co-operation on specific projects. INGO experts may participate in various projects as consultants; they may contribute to the work of intergovernmental committees on an institutionalized or ad-hoc basis, prepare memoranda for the Secretary General, make oral or written statements to the committees of the Parliamentary Assembly and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities and address seminars and other meetings organised by the Council of Europe. INGOs enjoying participatory status also disseminate information about the Council of Europe’s aims and activities among their constituencies.
The INGOs enjoying participatory status from the Conference of INGOs and meet four times a year in Strasbourg. Their work is structured around thematic committees and transversal groups. For more information on these committees and groups please refer to the part of this website related to the committees and transversal groups.
http://www.coe.int/en/web/ingo/participatory-status
