Mr. Ludwig Forrest:

I faced a very large company which was engaged in a great many philanthropic activities in the USA but which wanted to commence something in Europe. The company is also present in Ireland serving breakfast. The company asked me where it should start to create a European programme. Hopefully, in some months or years it will be possible to start with a European foundation. Currently, where a decision has been made to go to Europe, implementation involves dealing with 27 different legislative regimes. It is not easy to act. It is a question of allowing people to start quickly. I was contacted recently by the Irish in Europe Association, which is based in Brussels to promote Irish culture across Europe. It has activities, grants and donors across the EU. They asked me how they could commence a particular activity to which a European foundation statute would have been an answer. There are many organisations which promote research on migration and poverty on a European wide basis. They are the first clients to seek a European foundation statute.