Brussels, 30/09/2003 (Agence Europe) - The General Affairs Council has adopted by qualified majority the regulation on the status and funding of European political parties. As expected, it approved all the amendments for compromise that the European Parliament had adopted during the first reading on 19 June. Denmark, Italy and Austria, however, voted against.
Most of the status provisions will enter into force after the European elections of June 2004. In order to benefit from this new status, a political party will need MEPs at the European Parliament or in national or regional parliaments in at least a quarter of Member States or have obtained at least 3% of the vote at the most recent European elections in a quarter of Member States. They will benefit from Community funding and could receive donations of up to EUR 12,000 a year by each donor. All donations more than EUR 500 will have to be declared.