Brussels, 16/04/2013 (Agence Europe) - With the 2014 European Parliament elections approaching, the rules on founding and funding European political parties should be revised to improve their visibility, transparency and effectiveness, and to enhance the European character of these elections. This, in short, is what the negotiating mandate with the Council contains, which was adopted (by 13 votes to 10) by the European Parliament's constitutional affairs committee on Monday 15 April.
“This new legislation will strengthen the actual involvement of EU citizens in the EU affairs. For EU citizens, a European political party with a legal personality is a strong representative body of EU citizens' interests (…) We are now starting the trilogue with the European Commission and the Council to have the new rules in force on time, before the elections of 2014”, said Marietta Giannakou (EPP, Greece), the rapporteur.
European legal status. European political parties and their affiliated foundations need to be established according to EU law in order to overcome the obstacles created by the diversity of national legal forms and ensure high standards of transparency and accountability, said the European Parliament's constitutional affairs committee.
Respecting values, in line with Article 2 of the Treaty, would still be a prerequisite for any alliance of national parties wishing to apply for European legal status. Once this status is obtained, a European party could apply for funds. However, in order to be eligible, it would have to have at least one elected MEP, so as to clearly prove its European political ambition. The same rules would apply to EU political foundations, provided that they are formally associated with an established European party.
Increased financial flexibility. Thanks to the new rules, European political parties could more easily generate their own resources by raising the ceiling on donations from €12,000 to €25,000. Any donation over €1,000 would have to be publicly disclosed, the MEPs agreed.
Stricter sanctions. Sanctions would be toughened to counterbalance greater financial flexibility. A European party infringing EU law would be deleted from the register and all its unspent EU funds would be seized. Furthermore, the constitutional affairs committee proposes that any fine imposed should be at least double the financial advantage gained through the infringement of the rule. The Parliament would be in charge of monitoring and assessing the respect of these rules and would decide on any sanctions. MEPs would be assisted by a committee of independent leading figures, whose conclusions would be made public.
No funding for campaigns except for referendums. The use of EU public funds to finance national candidates or political campaigns would remain prohibited. However, the constitutional affairs committee inserted an exception to allow the use of EU funds for referendums on EU legislation or to ratify an EU Treaty change. (LC/transl.fl)