Brussels, 27/01/2003 (Agence Europe) - The five European political parties (the Party of European Socialists, the European People's Party, the European Liberal, Democrat and Reform Party, the European Federation of Green Parties and the European Free Alliance) are holding a seminar in Brussels on Tuesday afternoon on the European Party Statute to ensure the new rules are in place and new, independent parties fully operational before the European elections of 2004, explains a PES press release. The press release explains that the following issues will be covered: the legal status of European parties; the definition of European parties and thresholds for funding them; the admissibility of sponsorship and donations; a code of conduct on future links with political groups in the European Parliament; and a strategy to ensure decisions are taken this year.