Parties’ funding overhaul set for Parliament backing

Date: 19/06/03

By Martin Banks

MEMBERS of the European Parliament are today (19 June) expected to endorse radical new rules on funding for European political parties.

Under proposals agreed by EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg on Monday, a party must be organized in at least one quarter of member states to qualify for EU funding.

After the 15-member bloc expands to 25 countries next May, the new threshold will mean a party must have elected representatives in at least seven member states to be able to draw from the €8 million set aside by the European Parliament for party funding.

The new rules also state that donations of more than €500 to European parties must be made public. Individual donations will be limited to €12,000. MEPs are expected to unanimously approve the deal when they vote on the package at their mini-plenary in Brussels today.

Before the vote, German MEP Jo Leinen, author of a Parliament report on a statute for party funding, said: "The financing of political parties, established on a solid, legal basis, will play a central role in legitimizing the EU."

The deal was welcomed by leaders of Parliament's main political groups but condemned as "grossly unfair" by smaller groups.

Hans-Gert Pöttering, of the European People's Party, said the statute was an important step in acknowledging the role of European political parties and ensuring transparency in their actions. He added he is confident it will be adopted by a majority in the Parliament.

Socialist group leader, Enrique Barón Crespo, said: "This decision marks an important step in the European construction and strengthens European democracy."

Liberal group leader Graham Watson felt the deal represented an "advance for Europe, democracy and transparency".

"The very adoption of a statute marks a recognition of the role which political parties play at European level," he added.

For Daniel Cohn-Bendit, co-president of the Green/European Free Alliance group, "the agreement gives clear and transparent rules for the funding of transnational parties".

But Jens-Peter Bonde, leader of the eurosceptic Europe of Democracies and Diversities, said: "I am against this in principle. European political parties are artificial and should be able to fund themselves via voluntary contributions from ordinary citizens."

The proposals were branded discriminatory to smaller parties by Scottish Nationalist Party deputy Neil MacCormick: "They are grossly unfair to parties such as ours who defend the rights of minorities and stateless nations."

Parliament officials said that the new provisions on funding are likely to prevent "fake" European parties, or alliances of parties marginalized in the member states from emerging.

"By financing only parties that are active in at least a quarter of member states, the EU will be able to support smaller European parties. The rules mean fake European parties will not be able to enter the system," said Antony Beumer, general secretary of the Party of European Socialists.

His comments were thought to be aimed at possible plans by ultra right-wing groups, such as the National Front in France and the British National Party, to form a grouping to contest next June's European elections.

The European Parliament adopted a statute on the financing of European political parties on 19 June 2003.