Brussels, 11/03/2004 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday the European Parliament adopted in Strasbourg the report by Greek Conservative Giorgios Dimitrakopoulos, introducing into its internal regulation provisions for the implementation of the regulation the status and funding of European political parties. The Secretary General of the Parliament will have the right of initiative for a possible suspension or reduction of funding. Decisions on the granting, suspension and reduction of funding will, above all, be the responsibility of the Parliamentary Bureau. The plenary will only intervene (by simple majority) if a party is excluded from Community funding.
In a press statement, the French sovereignist Georges Berthus indicated that there was opposition from 23 MEPs from the different groups to this kind of European funding. These MEPs have appealed to the Court of Justice against the 4 November regulation.