Associations Acknowledged as Being of Public Utility in France

In France, the freedom of association was legally established at the end of 19th century, by the Law passed in the 21st of March 1884 concerning the organization of professional unions. Later, the setting-up of the associations with a non-profit organization purpose was set by Law dating the 1st of July 1901. This law refers to the association contract, which is a normative act, partially valid even nowadays. According to the legal definition, the association is that convention through which two or even more people bring permanently together their knowledge and activity, having as purpose the accomplishment of their aims, others than the division of benefits. The French doctrine and legislation distinguish among the non-declared associations, declared associations and acknowledged associations as being of public utility. As far as the acknowledged associations are concerned, the legislation and the administrative jurisprudence established a series of rules concerning the conditions and the acknowledgement administrative procedure, which are taken over by the Romanian Legislative power, too. In contradistinction to the Romanian public utility association whose acknowledgement is achieved through Government Decision, French associations have their status set by Decree in the Council of the State.