Negotiations between representatives of the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union on the reform of European political parties and their foundations failed, on Wednesday 29 March, to achieve a significant breakthrough although no one expected a favourable outcome.
Several parliamentary and diplomatic sources confirmed, on Thursday 30 March, that the two EU institutions are sticking to their guns on areas such as the participation in a European party of political parties from outside the EU, although Member States are ready to show more flexibility on the scope of the text (see EUROPE 13144/15). The possibility for a European party to finance national referendum campaigns, which the European Parliament wanted, is still opposed by the Member States.
The only point on which progress was reportedly made was the issue of gender equality.
Some point to the risk that, in the absence of an inter-institutional political agreement in April, the reform will not be implemented before the European elections in May 2024. The Swedish Presidency of the EU Council must now consider the way forward on this issue, as no date for a new trilogue has been set. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)