Abstract

The article aims to analyze the new Italian legal framework on third sector organizations in a European and comparative legal perspective. Italy is the only European country with a specific legislation on the «third sector». However, in the legal systems of the other EU Member States, organizations equivalent to third sector organizations, or at least to a part of them, are recognized and regulated. The comparison between the Italian law of the third sector and the law of public benefit organizations and social enterprises, in force in other countries, shows the presence of many similarities. A common core of European third sector law can therefore be identified. The article also presents and discusses the current state and evolution of EU law and policies on the organizations concerned and underlines the importance of an EU legal intervention in this field.