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Today the EU’s European affairs ministers reached political agreement (a partial general approach) on the recast of the regulation on the statute and funding of European political parties and European political foundations.
This revision aims to enhance the transparency of European political parties and bolster the framework for their funding, in particular to counter the risks of foreign interference and manipulation, while seeking to limit the administrative burden that European political parties might have to bear. It will also facilitate action by and the visibility of European political parties, which are a vehicle for EU citizens to express their will, in the member states, and thus for European democracy. Finally, it will help to strengthen the confidence of European citizens in their European institutions and political parties.
The transparency of political campaigns and elections is vital to protect the democratic process. Citizens have a right to know where party funding comes from. The regulation will help increase transparency and limit foreign interference.
Clément Beaune, French Minister of State with responsibility for European Affairs
The European Semester process was also on the agenda.
The French presidency has drawn up a synthesis report of the Council’s contributions to the 2022 European Semester, summarising the Council’s contributions concerning the autumn package of the 2022 European Semester published in November last year. Exchanges of views relating to the first phase of the 2022 European Semester have been held in various Council configurations. The results of those exchanges are reflected in the document.
The presidency presented the updated roadmap for the 2022 European Semester setting out the dates of the most important discussions, in particular participation in the relevant Council configurations with a view to the European Council meetings on 24 and 25 March and in June. Ahead of the June European Council, the Commission presented the spring package consisting of country-specific reports and the Council’s recommendations.
Ministers also agreed to forward the draft recommendation on the economic policy of the euro area to the European Council for approval. The draft recommendation was finalised and approved in January. The text will be adopted by the Council after approval by the European Council.
The presidency has proposed to the Council a methodology for the next stages of the Conference with a view to the closing event on 9 May, taking into account the comments previously made by the member states.
At the end of last week, the recommendations of the last Citizens’ Panels on the economy, social justice, youth and education, global Europe and immigration were presented to the plenary.
The next plenary sessions are scheduled for 25 and 26 March, 8 and 9 April and 29 and 30 April. They are intended to prepare the final proposals of the plenary.
The final results of the Conference, based on citizens’ recommendations, will be presented in a report to be sent by the executive board to the joint presidency of the Conference on 9 May.
The institutions, including the Council, will then be responsible for implementing the conclusions of the Conference, within the powers conferred on them by the Treaties.
The transparency of political campaigns and elections is vital to protect the democratic process. Citizens have a right to know where party funding comes from. The regulation will help increase transparency and limit foreign interference.
