Law of Third Sector Organizations in Europe

​Antonio Fici is an Associate Professor of Private Law at the Department of History, Cultural Heritage, Education and Society oft he University of Roma Tor Vergata, Italy. With expertise in nonprofit and third sector law, cooperative law, as well as unconventional forms of enterprises like social enterprises and social economy organizations, Antonio Fici is recognized as a lawyer, scholar, and international consultant in these fields. With almost 25 years of experience, his expertise lies in organizational law, particularly in the areas of third sector organizations, nonprofit organizations, public benefit organizations, social economy entities, cooperatives, social enterprises, social cooperatives. He has authored numerous publications, including internationally recognized works, and has curated research reports commissioned by institutions like the European Commission and Parliament. Professor Fici has been a keynote speaker at various conferences in Italy and abroad and has successfully led international research groups. He also served as a consultant to the Italian Ministry of Labour and Social Policies, contributing to the drafting of reform decrees for the third sector. Currently, he holds the position of Scientific Director at Terzjus, an observatory focused on third sector law, philanthropy, and social enterprise.

“The book primarily relies on legal analysis, interpreting statutory frameworks and case law across various countries. Each chapter starts with an introduction, analyzes the legal frameworks and challenges, and concludes with findings, recommendations, and references. ... I recommend this book to anyone interested in the future of law in Europe’s third sector. Academics and researchers in nonprofit and social economy law need to offer comparative insights on regulation across Europe." (Afila Imro’atun Khasanah, Voluntas, Vol. 36 (2), 2025)

• Part I National Perspectives on the Law of Third Sector Organizations.- The Third Sector in Belgium.- The Diversity of Third Sector Organizations in Denmark.- French Economie Sociale et Solidaire in the Middle of the Ford.- Law in Transition: Reforming the Legal Framework of the Third Sector in Germany.- Third Sector Organisations in Ireland: Assembling the Regulatory Jigsaw Pieces of an Evolving, if Fragmented, Sector.- The New Italian Code of the Third Sector. Essence and Principles of a Historic Legislative Reform.- The Legal Infrastructure of the Third Sector and the Social Economy in the Netherlands.- Third Sector in the Third Republic: An Overview of the Law and Practice in Poland.- The Legal Regime of the Social Economy Sector in Portugal.- Social Economy and Third Sector in Spanish Law. Convergences and divergences.- Part II European and Comparative Law of Third Sector Organizations.- Third Sector Organizations in a European and Comparative Legal Perspective.- The Taxation of Social Economy Entities in the Perspective of EU Law.- European Law of Third Sector Organizations from the US Standpoint.