Brussels, 12/05/2016 (Agence Europe) - A procedure to verify whether the European political party 'Alliance for Peace and Freedom' (APF) complies with the fundamental principles of the EU was launched on Thursday 12 May by the conference of the presidents of the European Parliament, which is made up of the President of the EP and the leaders of the political groups of the EP.
APF is a new trans-national party bringing together a number of radical extreme right-wing parties, such as PND of Germany, the Greek party Golden Dawn and the Party of the Danes.
Having received the required number of signatures from the MEPs (at least one quarter of all MEPs) from four political groups (EPP, S&D, ALDE and GUE/NGL), the conference of the presidents asked the constitutional affairs committee of the EP to verify whether APF “is continuing (particularly in its programme and its activities) to observe the principles on which the European Union is founded, namely the principles of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law”, in line with article 222 of the European Parliament's Rules of Procedure, which is being used for the first time.
The constitutional affairs committee will hear representatives of AFP and seek the opinion of a committee of independent eminent persons. It will then submit a proposal to the full Parliament to decide whether APF has complied with the criteria to be recognised as a European political party and thus to receive funding from the Parliament. The Parliament will vote by majority of votes cast on the proposed decision to be submitted to it. No amendments may be tabled. If the proposed decision does not secure a majority, a decision to the contrary is deemed to have been agreed upon. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)