On Tuesday 22 March, the European Affairs Ministers of the EU countries reached a partial political agreement (‘general approach’) on the proposal for a regulation revising the regulations governing European political parties and their European foundations (see EUROPE 12912/12).
During the public debate, the President of the General Affairs Council, Clément Beaune, identified the “precautions” introduced by the text, which the Russian invasion of Ukraine would make “even more justified”. In order to better protect the intra-EU democratic process against the risk of foreign interference, “political parties from non-EU countries will no longer be allowed to take part in the governance of European political parties or to finance them with contributions”, he said. But these provisions will not prevent a European political party from “maintaining links” with a party in a non-EU country.
Mr Beaune also noted “an improvement in the transparency of financial flows” from which European political parties benefit, in particular “donations”. In addition, a new category of “self-generated resources” will be created, corresponding to non-profit income generated on the basis of own activities. These resources will be capped at 2% of the total budget of a European political party.
Finally, a European political party will be able to participate in and finance joint events organised with national parties, in accordance with national rules.
The national delegations that took the floor supported the proposal on the table. Portugal abstained, maintaining a parliamentary reserve. Poland and Hungary annexed two declarations - Warsaw on the issue of gender equality and Budapest on the respect of the principle of subsidiarity.
On behalf of the European Commission, however, Maroš Šefčovič warned of the unintended consequences of future rules, including the definition of “political alliance” in the EU Council text, which would limit membership to European political parties and their foundations.
“Currently all political parties have member from states not being EU members. These are often political parties in the opposition of tough regimes, who fight for human rights. For them, receiving support at international level is very important,” said the Vice-President of the Commission. He cited the ALDE membership of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s People’s Servant Party and the EPP membership of Moldovan President Maia Sandu’s Action and Solidarity Party.
Under the text agreed by the EU Council, “these parties could no longer be recognised as members of European political parties”, he noted, questioning whether such a position is in line with the EU’s encouragement of such parties expressing their European aspirations. It also seems that the recent exclusion of Russia from the Council of Europe should be taken into account (see EUROPE 12912/4).
Interviewed by EUROPE after the General Affairs Council, Mr Beaune justified the EU Council’s position, which still needs to be negotiated with the European Parliament when it formalises its position, possibly in June: “There is a very broad political consensus that in European political parties or European foundations, it is not a question of excluding any party outside the EU, but of not having external funding. This does not mean that any party from outside the EU is necessarily a threat, but one should not be naive. There may be (...) foreign influences coming from Russia, Turkey or elsewhere, through funding which is sometimes directed towards national political parties, sometimes towards European political parties”.
The partial political agreement does not include the provisions on online political advertising, which are linked to another legislative proposal (see EUROPE 12840/5).
In order to be applicable for the 2024 European elections, the legislative proposal will have to be adopted by spring 2023 at the latest. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)