{"change_dates":[],"dossier":{"amendments":[{"authors":"George Lyon","changes":{},"committee":["BUDG"],"date":"2013-04-29T00:00:00","id":"PE510.552-12","location":[["Proposal for a regulation","Article 1 \u2013 paragraph 1 \u2013 point 1"],["Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012","Article 204a \u2013 paragraph 2"]],"meps":[96959],"meta":{"created":"2019-07-03T05:12:45"},"new":["2. Direct financial contributions from the","budget may be awarded to European","political parties in view of their","contribution to forming European political","awareness and to expressing the political","will of the citizens of the Union in","accordance with the provisions of","Regulation (EU) No [...] of the European","Parliament and of the Council on the","statute and funding of European political","parties and European political","foundations*.","____________","* OJ L ..."],"old":["2. Direct financial contributions from the","budget may be awarded to European","political parties in view of their","contribution to forming European political","awareness and to expressing the political","will of the citizens of the Union."],"orig_lang":"en","peid":"PE510.552v01-00","reference":"2012/0336(COD)","seq":"12","src":"http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+COMPARL+PE-510.552+01+DOC+PDF+V0//EN&language=EN"},{"authors":"Ingeborg Gr\u00e4\u00dfle","changes":{},"committee":["BUDG"],"date":"2013-04-29T00:00:00","id":"PE510.552-13","justification":" Update of rapporteur's amendment 1 following the vote on the Giannakou report (cf.\n amendment 68 (Art. 18(3)) of the said report).","location":[["Proposal for a regulation","Article 1 \u2013 paragraph 1 \u2013 point 1"],["Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012","Article 204b \u2013 paragraph 1"]],"meps":[28220],"meta":{"created":"2019-07-03T05:12:45"},"new":["1. Contributions shall only be used to","reimburse a percentage of the operating","costs of European political parties directly","linked to objectives of those parties. Such","reimbursable costs shall include","administrative expenditure and","expenditure linked to technical assistance,","meetings, events, including joint events","with political groups in the European","Parliament, information, publications,","campaigns conducted in the context of the","elections to the European Parliament, and","referendum campaigns at European level.","Expenditure linked to campaigns","conducted in the context of the elections","to the European Parliament shall be","reimbursed in accordance with the rules","laid down in Article [17] of Regulation","(EU) No [...] on the statute and funding of","European political parties and European","political foundations*. Exceptionally,","contributions may also be used to finance","national, regional or local referendum","campaigns, provided that the subject of","the referendum in question is Union","legislation, the functioning of a Union","institution, or the ratification of changes","to Union treaties.","__________________","*","OJ L ..."],"old":["1. Contributions shall only be used to","reimburse a percentage of the operating","costs of European political parties directly","linked to objectives of those parties.","Contributions shall not be used to grant","directly or indirectly any personal","advantage, in cash or in kind, to any","","individual member or staff of a European","political party."],"orig_lang":"en","peid":"PE510.552v01-00","reference":"2012/0336(COD)","seq":"13","src":"http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+COMPARL+PE-510.552+01+DOC+PDF+V0//EN&language=EN"},{"authors":" J\u00fcrgen Klute, Alda Sousa, Helmut Scholz","changes":{},"committee":["BUDG"],"date":"2013-04-29T00:00:00","id":"PE510.552-14","location":[[" Proposal for a regulation","Article 1 \u2013 paragraph 1 \u2013 point 1"],[" Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012","Article 204b \u2013 paragraph 1"]],"meps":[96769,113487,96646],"meta":{"created":"2019-07-03T05:12:45"},"new":["1. The contributions referred to in Article","204a(2) shall only be used to reimburse a","percentage of the operating costs of","European political parties that are directly","linked to objectives of those parties.","Contributions shall not be used to grant","directly or indirectly any personal","advantage, in cash or in kind, to any","individual member or staff of a European","political party."],"old":["1. Contributions shall only be used to","reimburse a percentage of the operating","costs of European political parties directly","linked to objectives of those parties.","Contributions shall not be used to grant","","directly or indirectly any personal","advantage, in cash or in kind, to any","individual member or staff of a European","political party."],"orig_lang":"en","peid":"PE510.552v01-00","reference":"2012/0336(COD)","seq":"14","src":"http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+COMPARL+PE-510.552+01+DOC+PDF+V0//EN&language=EN"},{"authors":"Ingeborg Gr\u00e4\u00dfle","changes":{},"committee":["BUDG"],"date":"2013-04-29T00:00:00","id":"PE510.552-15","justification":"Update of rapporteur's amendment 3 following the vote on the Giannakou report (cf.\namendment 68 (Art. 18(3)) of the said report).","location":[["Proposal for a regulation","Article 1 \u2013 paragraph 1 \u2013 point 1"],["Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012","Article 204b \u2013 paragraph 2"]],"meps":[28220],"meta":{"created":"2019-07-03T05:12:45"},"new":["2. Contributions shall not be used to grant","directly or indirectly any personal","advantage, in cash or in kind, to any","individual member or staff of a European","political party. Contributions shall not be","used to fund directly or indirectly activities","of third parties, in particular national","political parties or political foundations at","European or national level, whether in the","form of grants, donations, loans or any","other similar agreements. Contributions","shall not be used to fund directly or","indirectly national, regional or local","elections, candidates or referendum","campaigns, except as provided for in","paragraph 1 for referendum campaigns","relating to Union legislation, Union","institutions, or changes to Union treaties."],"old":["2. Contributions shall not be used to fund","activities of third parties, in particular","national political parties or political","foundations at European or national level,","whether in the form of grants, donations,","loans or any other similar agreements."],"orig_lang":"en","peid":"PE510.552v01-00","reference":"2012/0336(COD)","seq":"15","src":"http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+COMPARL+PE-510.552+01+DOC+PDF+V0//EN&language=EN"},{"authors":" J\u00fcrgen Klute, Alda Sousa","changes":{},"committee":["BUDG"],"date":"2013-04-29T00:00:00","id":"PE510.552-16","location":[[" Proposal for a regulation","Article 1 \u2013 paragraph 1 \u2013 point 1"],[" Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012","Article 204 b \u2013 paragraph 3"]],"meps":[96769,113487],"meta":{"created":"2019-07-03T05:12:45"},"new":["3. Contributions shall be in full","compliance with the principles of","transparency and equal treatment, in","accordance with the criteria laid down in","Regulation (EU) No [\u2026.]. Furthermore,","all contributions regardless of their","amount are to be registered."],"old":["3. Contributions shall be subject to the","principles of transparency and equal","treatment, in accordance with the criteria","laid down in Regulation (EU) No [\u2026.]."],"orig_lang":"en","peid":"PE510.552v01-00","reference":"2012/0336(COD)","seq":"16","src":"http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+COMPARL+PE-510.552+01+DOC+PDF+V0//EN&language=EN"},{"authors":" Ingeborg Gr\u00e4\u00dfle","changes":{},"committee":["BUDG"],"date":"2013-04-29T00:00:00","id":"PE510.552-17","justification":"Revision of rapporteur's amendment 5.","location":[[" Proposal for a regulation","Article 1 \u2013 paragraph 1 \u2013 point 1"],[" Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012","Article 204c"]],"meps":[28220],"meta":{"created":"2019-07-03T05:12:46"},"new":["Contributions shall be paid from the","European Parliament section of the budget.","The appropriations set aside for","independent external audit bodies or","experts referred to in Article [19] of","Regulation (EU) No [...] on the statute","and funding of European political parties","and European political foundations* shall","be charged directly to the budget of the","European Parliament. Such bodies or","experts shall be selected, mandated and","paid by the European Parliament, without","prejudice to Article [19] of that","Regulation.","__________________","*","OJ L ..."],"old":["Contributions shall be paid from the","European Parliament section of the budget.","",""],"orig_lang":"en","peid":"PE510.552v01-00","reference":"2012/0336(COD)","seq":"17","src":"http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+COMPARL+PE-510.552+01+DOC+PDF+V0//EN&language=EN"},{"authors":"Ingeborg Gr\u00e4\u00dfle","changes":{},"committee":["BUDG"],"date":"2013-04-29T00:00:00","id":"PE510.552-18","location":[["Proposal for a regulation","Article 1 \u2013 paragraph 1 \u2013 point 1"],["Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012","Article 204e \u2013 paragraph 5"]],"meps":[28220],"meta":{"created":"2019-07-03T05:12:46"},"new":["5. The authorising officer may be assisted","by a committee to evaluate and establish","the award decision. 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Consequently, these contributions cannot be treated as an own\n resource of a European political party.","location":[[" Proposal for a regulation","Article 1 \u2013 paragraph 1 \u2013 point 1"],[" Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012","Article 204k \u2013 paragraph 3"]],"meps":[28220],"meta":{"created":"2019-07-03T05:12:46"},"new":["3. European political parties shall respect","the maximum co-financing rate established","in Regulation xx/xxxx. Remaining amounts","of the previous two years' contributions","may not be used to finance the part which","European political parties must provide","from their own resources. Contributions by","third parties to joint events shall not be","considered as part of the own resources of","a European political party."],"old":["3. European political parties shall respect","the maximum co-financing rate established","in Regulation xx/xxxx. 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Cf. also amendment 14 of the AFCO opinion.","location":[[" Proposal for a regulation","Article 1 \u2013 paragraph 1 \u2013 point 1"],[" Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012","Article 204n \u2013 paragraph 2"]],"meps":[28220],"meta":{"created":"2019-07-03T05:12:46"},"new":["2. Administrative and financial penalties","which are effective, proportionate and","dissuasive may be imposed on applicants","by the authorising officer, in accordance","with Article 109 of this Regulation and","with Article 22(3) of Regulation (EU) No","[....] on the statute and funding of","European political parties and European","political foundations*, without prejudice","to Article 22(7) of Regulation (EU) No","[\u2026.].","__________________","*","OJ L ..."],"old":["2. 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If a European political foundation","within the meaning of Regulation (EU)","No [...] on the statute and funding of","European political parties and European","political foundations realises a surplus of","income over expenditure at the end of a","financial year in which it received an","operating grant, the operating grant may,","by derogation from the no-profit principle","laid down in paragraph 4, be carried over","to the two following years provided that it","is used by 31 December of year n+2.","For the purpose of verifying compliance","with the no-profit principle, the own","resources, aggregated in the annual","operations of a European political","foundation, which exceed the percentage","of the eligible costs to be borne by the","European political foundation as","specified in Article [12(4)] of Regulation","(EU) No [...], shall not be taken into","account.","The second subparagraph shall not apply","if the financial reserves of a European","political foundation exceed 100% of its","average annual income.\""],"old":["(3) The second subparagraph of Article","125(3) and paragraph 6 of Article 125 are","deleted."],"orig_lang":"en","peid":"PE510.552v01-00","reference":"2012/0336(COD)","seq":"25","src":"http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+COMPARL+PE-510.552+01+DOC+PDF+V0//EN&language=EN"},{"authors":"Gerald H\u00e4fner","changes":{},"committee":["AFCO"],"date":"2013-03-27T00:00:00","id":"PE508.057-9","location":[["Proposal for a regulation","Recital 8"]],"meps":[96758],"meta":{"created":"2019-07-03T05:53:37"},"new":["(8) While financial support is awarded","without an annual work programme and","estimated operating budget, European","political parties should justify ex post the","sound use of Union funds. 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PURPOSE: to amend the Financial Regulation so as to\ntake into account changes proposed by the Commission in its\nproposal for a Regulation on the statute and funding of European\npolitical parties and European political foundations.
\nPROPOSED ACT: Regulation of the European Parliament\nand of the Council.
\nBACKGROUND: the proposal\nfor a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on\nthe statute and funding of European political parties and European\npolitical foundations - which will replace current Regulation\n(EC) No 2004/2003 - contains new\nrules regarding, inter alia, the funding of political\nparties and political foundations at European level. Their\neffectiveness requires that they are accompanied by a corresponding\nset of financial rules anchored in the Financial Regulation\n(Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012).
\nThe proposal follows the European\nParliament resolution of 6 April 2011 regarding the financing\nof the European political parties which considers that, in light of\nthe experience gained, the financing of European political parties\nand European political foundations should be improved as regards a\nnumber of points. In particular, it calls for an end to the system\nof grants and the creation of a new financing instrument in the\nFinancial Regulation devoted solely and tailored specifically\nto the funding of European Parties and\nfoundations.
\nIMPACT ASSESSMENT: after a detailed analysis, it is\nproposed that political parties should indeed be financed\nthrough a new instrument (\"contributions\") rather than through an\noperating grant, as it is currently the case.
\nAs regards European political foundations, it\nis considered that they should continue to receive an operating\ngrant. The Commission feels that the request of the European\nParliament to exclude European political foundations also from the\ngrant system is not justified given that the specific\ncharacteristics of European political parties are not the same as\nthe European political foundations.
\nLEGAL BASIS: Article 322 of the Treaty on the\nFunctioning of the European Union (TFEU), in conjunction with the\nTreaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, and in\nparticular Article 106a thereof.
\nCONTENT: the Commission proposal establishes a new\nTitle VIII be inserted in part Two of the Financial Regulation\ndedicated to Contributions to European political parties and it\nrepeals the specific provisions regarding European political\nparties which are currently provided for under Title VI (grants) of\npart One.
\nThe proposal introduces the following\nelements:
\nBUDGETARY IMPLICATION: the envisaged modification of\nthe Financial Regulation has no budgetary implications.
\nPURPOSE: to amend the Financial Regulation so as to\ntake into account changes proposed by the Commission in its\nproposal for a Regulation on the statute and funding of European\npolitical parties and European political foundations.
\nPROPOSED ACT: Regulation of the European Parliament\nand of the Council.
\nBACKGROUND: the proposal\nfor a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on\nthe statute and funding of European political parties and European\npolitical foundations - which will replace current Regulation\n(EC) No 2004/2003 - contains new\nrules regarding, inter alia, the funding of political\nparties and political foundations at European level. Their\neffectiveness requires that they are accompanied by a corresponding\nset of financial rules anchored in the Financial Regulation\n(Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012).
\nThe proposal follows the European\nParliament resolution of 6 April 2011 regarding the financing\nof the European political parties which considers that, in light of\nthe experience gained, the financing of European political parties\nand European political foundations should be improved as regards a\nnumber of points. In particular, it calls for an end to the system\nof grants and the creation of a new financing instrument in the\nFinancial Regulation devoted solely and tailored specifically\nto the funding of European Parties and\nfoundations.
\nIMPACT ASSESSMENT: after a detailed analysis, it is\nproposed that political parties should indeed be financed\nthrough a new instrument (\"contributions\") rather than through an\noperating grant, as it is currently the case.
\nAs regards European political foundations, it\nis considered that they should continue to receive an operating\ngrant. The Commission feels that the request of the European\nParliament to exclude European political foundations also from the\ngrant system is not justified given that the specific\ncharacteristics of European political parties are not the same as\nthe European political foundations.
\nLEGAL BASIS: Article 322 of the Treaty on the\nFunctioning of the European Union (TFEU), in conjunction with the\nTreaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, and in\nparticular Article 106a thereof.
\nCONTENT: the Commission proposal establishes a new\nTitle VIII be inserted in part Two of the Financial Regulation\ndedicated to Contributions to European political parties and it\nrepeals the specific provisions regarding European political\nparties which are currently provided for under Title VI (grants) of\npart One.
\nThe proposal introduces the following\nelements:
\nBUDGETARY IMPLICATION: the envisaged modification of\nthe Financial Regulation has no budgetary implications.
\nPURPOSE: to amend the Financial Regulation so as to\ntake into account changes proposed by the Commission in its\nproposal for a Regulation on the statute and funding of European\npolitical parties and European political foundations.
\nPROPOSED ACT: Regulation of the European Parliament\nand of the Council.
\nBACKGROUND: the proposal\nfor a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on\nthe statute and funding of European political parties and European\npolitical foundations - which will replace current Regulation\n(EC) No 2004/2003 - contains new\nrules regarding, inter alia, the funding of political\nparties and political foundations at European level. Their\neffectiveness requires that they are accompanied by a corresponding\nset of financial rules anchored in the Financial Regulation\n(Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012).
\nThe proposal follows the European\nParliament resolution of 6 April 2011 regarding the financing\nof the European political parties which considers that, in light of\nthe experience gained, the financing of European political parties\nand European political foundations should be improved as regards a\nnumber of points. In particular, it calls for an end to the system\nof grants and the creation of a new financing instrument in the\nFinancial Regulation devoted solely and tailored specifically\nto the funding of European Parties and\nfoundations.
\nIMPACT ASSESSMENT: after a detailed analysis, it is\nproposed that political parties should indeed be financed\nthrough a new instrument (\"contributions\") rather than through an\noperating grant, as it is currently the case.
\nAs regards European political foundations, it\nis considered that they should continue to receive an operating\ngrant. The Commission feels that the request of the European\nParliament to exclude European political foundations also from the\ngrant system is not justified given that the specific\ncharacteristics of European political parties are not the same as\nthe European political foundations.
\nLEGAL BASIS: Article 322 of the Treaty on the\nFunctioning of the European Union (TFEU), in conjunction with the\nTreaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, and in\nparticular Article 106a thereof.
\nCONTENT: the Commission proposal establishes a new\nTitle VIII be inserted in part Two of the Financial Regulation\ndedicated to Contributions to European political parties and it\nrepeals the specific provisions regarding European political\nparties which are currently provided for under Title VI (grants) of\npart One.
\nThe proposal introduces the following\nelements:
\nBUDGETARY IMPLICATION: the envisaged modification of\nthe Financial Regulation has no budgetary implications.
\n\nOpinion No 1/2013 concerning the proposal for a\nregulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the\nstatute and funding of European political parties and European\npolitical foundations and concerning the proposal for a regulation\nof the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation\n(EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 as regards the financing of European\npolitical parties.
\nWhilst acknowledging that the Commissions\nproposals address a number of shortfalls in the provisions\ncurrently in force, the Court feels that some further issues need\nto be addressed in order to encourage a European political culture\nof independence, accountability and responsibility, to strengthen\nscrutiny and avoid the potential abuse of the funding\nrules.
\nThe main points are as follows:
\nDonations: the Court\nconsiders:
\n\n· \nthe definition proposed for the term\ndonation is too narrowly worded, leaving room\nfor European political parties and foundations to circumvent\ntransparency requirements and maximum thresholds;
\n\n· \nthe proposal does not specifically regulate\ndonations from natural or legal persons who provide goods and\nservices for EU institutions or for other public authorities\ninvolved in the management of EU funds;
\n\n· \nno rules are proposed on donations to entities\nwhich are related, directly or indirectly, to European political\nparties or foundations or are otherwise under their effective\ncontrol;
\n\n· \nthe proposal does not specifically regulate\ndonations from private entities based in non- member countries\nor from international organisations.
\n\n· \nclear rules should be set in respect of\ndonations from the public authorities of EU Member States to\nEuropean political parties and European political\nfoundations
\nContributions: whilst\nthe proposal limits donations to a value of EUR 25 000 per year and\nper donor, no ceilings are set for individual contributions from\nmembers of political parties and foundations.
\nLoans: there are no\nprovisions on loans, their sources and their terms and conditions,\nwhich means that there is a risk of rules on donations and\ncontributions being circumvented by receiving loans at particularly\nadvantageous conditions.
\nSanctions: the maximum\namount for fines is limited to 10 % of the annual budget of the\nparty in question corresponding to the year in which the sanction\nis imposed. Fines would be decided by Parliament. For\nirregularities related to donations and contributions, the Court\nrecommends a less discretionary approach. The amount of a fine\nshould be a multiple of the irregular amounts involved, without\na maximum ceiling.
\nFurthermore the Court recommends that mandatory\nadministrative and financial penalties should also apply where the\nEuropean Parliament or the Court are prevented from exercising\ntheir audit powers.
\nDirect donations to candidates or elected\nrepresentatives: the Court draws\nattention to the need for rules regarding the funding of political\nparties to apply mutatis mutandis to the funding of campaigns of\nindividual candidates for European elections or elected\nrepresentatives. This would mitigate the risk of the provisions on\nthe funding of political parties being circumvented by direct\ndonations to candidates or elected representatives.
\nEligibility conditions for EU funding and some other\nconcepts: these should be defined in\ngreater detail including:
\n\n· \nthe nature of the expenditure of European\npolitical parties which may be funded from the EU budget. Such a\ndefinition would provide useful guidance for the calls for\ncontributions to be issued by the European Parliament;
\n\n· \nthe proposal amending the financial\nregulation should also make it clear that European political\nparties receiving a contribution from the general budget shall not\nreceive other funds from the budget.
\nAccounts and reporting obligations: in order to enhance comparability and transparency,\nit would be preferable to have a standardised, accruals-based,\npresentation of accounts and detailed reporting obligations,\nusing a compulsory model, which would apply to all political\nparties and foundations independently of the law applicable in the\nMember State in which they have their seat. Furthermore, those in\ncharge of external audit should be selected, mandated and paid by\nthe European Parliament to ensure consistency in the performance of\nthe external audit function and facilitate the monitoring of this\nactivity.
\nThe Committee on Budgets adopted the report by\nIngeborg GRÄSSLE (EPP, DE) on the proposal for a regulation of\nthe European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU,\nEuratom) No 966/2012 as regards the financing of European political\nparties.
\nThe committee recommends that Parliaments\nposition adopted at first reading, according to the ordinary\nlegislative procedure, should be to amend the Commissions\nproposal as follows:
\nRegistration: the report\nstated that if the formation of political parties at European level\nwere to take place independently of their formal registration, they\nshould acquire the legal status of European political parties only\nby means of formal registration.
\nContributions: one of\nthe committees objectives has been to ensure the highest\npossible degree of coherence between this proposal and the proposal for a regulation on\nthe statute and funding of European political parties and European\npolitical foundations, by adapting the report to the modifications\nof the financial rules in the Giannakou report. The amendments take\nup points made by the Court of Auditors in its Opinion\n1/2013.
\nMembers also clarified the following:
\nMoreover, contributions should not be used:
\nLastly, European political parties receiving a\ncontribution should not receive directly or indirectly other funds\nfrom the budget. In particular, donations from the budgets\nof political groups in the European Parliament should be\nprohibited.
\nEvaluation procedure of contribution\nrequests: if the application is\nrejected, the authorising officer should inform the applicant of\nall possible judicial and extrajudicial remedies\navailable.
\nRules applicable to contributions: the proposed amendment is aligned to Article\n124(2)(c) of the Financial Regulation (scope and form of grants\n lump sums, unit costs and flat-rate financing) and adds a\nrequirement to quantify lump sums, flat rates and unit costs in the\ncall for contributions.
\nUse of contributions:\ncontributions by third parties to joint events should not be\nconsidered as part of the own resources of a European political\nparty.
\nReport on the use of contributions: European political parties should broadly and\npublicly report the use of Union contributions in a\ncitizen-friendly, searchable database. They should publish, at\nleast on their website, the final report and accounts.
\nRules on the carry-over of grants to EU political\nparties: Members suggested giving\nEuropean political foundations some additional flexibility in their\nfinancial planning by preserving Article 125(6) of the Financial\nRegulation as amended.
\nThe Committee on Budgets adopted the report by\nIngeborg GRÄSSLE (EPP, DE) on the proposal for a regulation of\nthe European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU,\nEuratom) No 966/2012 as regards the financing of European political\nparties.
\nThe committee recommends that Parliaments\nposition adopted at first reading, according to the ordinary\nlegislative procedure, should be to amend the Commissions\nproposal as follows:
\nRegistration: the report\nstated that if the formation of political parties at European level\nwere to take place independently of their formal registration, they\nshould acquire the legal status of European political parties only\nby means of formal registration.
\nContributions: one of\nthe committees objectives has been to ensure the highest\npossible degree of coherence between this proposal and the proposal for a regulation on\nthe statute and funding of European political parties and European\npolitical foundations, by adapting the report to the modifications\nof the financial rules in the Giannakou report. The amendments take\nup points made by the Court of Auditors in its Opinion\n1/2013.
\nMembers also clarified the following:
\nMoreover, contributions should not be used:
\nLastly, European political parties receiving a\ncontribution should not receive directly or indirectly other funds\nfrom the budget. In particular, donations from the budgets\nof political groups in the European Parliament should be\nprohibited.
\nEvaluation procedure of contribution\nrequests: if the application is\nrejected, the authorising officer should inform the applicant of\nall possible judicial and extrajudicial remedies\navailable.
\nRules applicable to contributions: the proposed amendment is aligned to Article\n124(2)(c) of the Financial Regulation (scope and form of grants\n lump sums, unit costs and flat-rate financing) and adds a\nrequirement to quantify lump sums, flat rates and unit costs in the\ncall for contributions.
\nUse of contributions:\ncontributions by third parties to joint events should not be\nconsidered as part of the own resources of a European political\nparty.
\nReport on the use of contributions: European political parties should broadly and\npublicly report the use of Union contributions in a\ncitizen-friendly, searchable database. They should publish, at\nleast on their website, the final report and accounts.
\nRules on the carry-over of grants to EU political\nparties: Members suggested giving\nEuropean political foundations some additional flexibility in their\nfinancial planning by preserving Article 125(6) of the Financial\nRegulation as amended.
\nThe Committee on Budgets adopted the report by\nIngeborg GRÄSSLE (EPP, DE) on the proposal for a regulation of\nthe European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU,\nEuratom) No 966/2012 as regards the financing of European political\nparties.
\nThe committee recommends that Parliaments\nposition adopted at first reading, according to the ordinary\nlegislative procedure, should be to amend the Commissions\nproposal as follows:
\nRegistration: the report\nstated that if the formation of political parties at European level\nwere to take place independently of their formal registration, they\nshould acquire the legal status of European political parties only\nby means of formal registration.
\nContributions: one of\nthe committees objectives has been to ensure the highest\npossible degree of coherence between this proposal and the proposal for a regulation on\nthe statute and funding of European political parties and European\npolitical foundations, by adapting the report to the modifications\nof the financial rules in the Giannakou report. The amendments take\nup points made by the Court of Auditors in its Opinion\n1/2013.
\nMembers also clarified the following:
\nMoreover, contributions should not be used:
\nLastly, European political parties receiving a\ncontribution should not receive directly or indirectly other funds\nfrom the budget. In particular, donations from the budgets\nof political groups in the European Parliament should be\nprohibited.
\nEvaluation procedure of contribution\nrequests: if the application is\nrejected, the authorising officer should inform the applicant of\nall possible judicial and extrajudicial remedies\navailable.
\nRules applicable to contributions: the proposed amendment is aligned to Article\n124(2)(c) of the Financial Regulation (scope and form of grants\n lump sums, unit costs and flat-rate financing) and adds a\nrequirement to quantify lump sums, flat rates and unit costs in the\ncall for contributions.
\nUse of contributions:\ncontributions by third parties to joint events should not be\nconsidered as part of the own resources of a European political\nparty.
\nReport on the use of contributions: European political parties should broadly and\npublicly report the use of Union contributions in a\ncitizen-friendly, searchable database. They should publish, at\nleast on their website, the final report and accounts.
\nRules on the carry-over of grants to EU political\nparties: Members suggested giving\nEuropean political foundations some additional flexibility in their\nfinancial planning by preserving Article 125(6) of the Financial\nRegulation as amended.
\nThe Committee on Budgets adopted the report by\nIngeborg GRÄSSLE (EPP, DE) on the proposal for a regulation of\nthe European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU,\nEuratom) No 966/2012 as regards the financing of European political\nparties.
\nThe committee recommends that Parliaments\nposition adopted at first reading, according to the ordinary\nlegislative procedure, should be to amend the Commissions\nproposal as follows:
\nRegistration: the report\nstated that if the formation of political parties at European level\nwere to take place independently of their formal registration, they\nshould acquire the legal status of European political parties only\nby means of formal registration.
\nContributions: one of\nthe committees objectives has been to ensure the highest\npossible degree of coherence between this proposal and the proposal for a regulation on\nthe statute and funding of European political parties and European\npolitical foundations, by adapting the report to the modifications\nof the financial rules in the Giannakou report. The amendments take\nup points made by the Court of Auditors in its Opinion\n1/2013.
\nMembers also clarified the following:
\nMoreover, contributions should not be used:
\nLastly, European political parties receiving a\ncontribution should not receive directly or indirectly other funds\nfrom the budget. In particular, donations from the budgets\nof political groups in the European Parliament should be\nprohibited.
\nEvaluation procedure of contribution\nrequests: if the application is\nrejected, the authorising officer should inform the applicant of\nall possible judicial and extrajudicial remedies\navailable.
\nRules applicable to contributions: the proposed amendment is aligned to Article\n124(2)(c) of the Financial Regulation (scope and form of grants\n lump sums, unit costs and flat-rate financing) and adds a\nrequirement to quantify lump sums, flat rates and unit costs in the\ncall for contributions.
\nUse of contributions:\ncontributions by third parties to joint events should not be\nconsidered as part of the own resources of a European political\nparty.
\nReport on the use of contributions: European political parties should broadly and\npublicly report the use of Union contributions in a\ncitizen-friendly, searchable database. They should publish, at\nleast on their website, the final report and accounts.
\nRules on the carry-over of grants to EU political\nparties: Members suggested giving\nEuropean political foundations some additional flexibility in their\nfinancial planning by preserving Article 125(6) of the Financial\nRegulation as amended.
\nThe Committee on Budgets adopted the report by\nIngeborg GRÄSSLE (EPP, DE) on the proposal for a regulation of\nthe European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU,\nEuratom) No 966/2012 as regards the financing of European political\nparties.
\nThe committee recommends that Parliaments\nposition adopted at first reading, according to the ordinary\nlegislative procedure, should be to amend the Commissions\nproposal as follows:
\nRegistration: the report\nstated that if the formation of political parties at European level\nwere to take place independently of their formal registration, they\nshould acquire the legal status of European political parties only\nby means of formal registration.
\nContributions: one of\nthe committees objectives has been to ensure the highest\npossible degree of coherence between this proposal and the proposal for a regulation on\nthe statute and funding of European political parties and European\npolitical foundations, by adapting the report to the modifications\nof the financial rules in the Giannakou report. The amendments take\nup points made by the Court of Auditors in its Opinion\n1/2013.
\nMembers also clarified the following:
\nMoreover, contributions should not be used:
\nLastly, European political parties receiving a\ncontribution should not receive directly or indirectly other funds\nfrom the budget. In particular, donations from the budgets\nof political groups in the European Parliament should be\nprohibited.
\nEvaluation procedure of contribution\nrequests: if the application is\nrejected, the authorising officer should inform the applicant of\nall possible judicial and extrajudicial remedies\navailable.
\nRules applicable to contributions: the proposed amendment is aligned to Article\n124(2)(c) of the Financial Regulation (scope and form of grants\n lump sums, unit costs and flat-rate financing) and adds a\nrequirement to quantify lump sums, flat rates and unit costs in the\ncall for contributions.
\nUse of contributions:\ncontributions by third parties to joint events should not be\nconsidered as part of the own resources of a European political\nparty.
\nReport on the use of contributions: European political parties should broadly and\npublicly report the use of Union contributions in a\ncitizen-friendly, searchable database. They should publish, at\nleast on their website, the final report and accounts.
\nRules on the carry-over of grants to EU political\nparties: Members suggested giving\nEuropean political foundations some additional flexibility in their\nfinancial planning by preserving Article 125(6) of the Financial\nRegulation as amended.
\nPURPOSE: to amend the Financial Regulation so as to\ntake into account changes proposed by the Commission in its\nproposal for a Regulation on the statute and funding of European\npolitical parties and European political foundations.
\nPROPOSED ACT: Regulation of the European Parliament\nand of the Council.
\nBACKGROUND: the proposal\nfor a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on\nthe statute and funding of European political parties and European\npolitical foundations - which will replace current Regulation\n(EC) No 2004/2003 - contains new\nrules regarding, inter alia, the funding of political\nparties and political foundations at European level. Their\neffectiveness requires that they are accompanied by a corresponding\nset of financial rules anchored in the Financial Regulation\n(Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012).
\nThe proposal follows the European\nParliament resolution of 6 April 2011 regarding the financing\nof the European political parties which considers that, in light of\nthe experience gained, the financing of European political parties\nand European political foundations should be improved as regards a\nnumber of points. In particular, it calls for an end to the system\nof grants and the creation of a new financing instrument in the\nFinancial Regulation devoted solely and tailored specifically\nto the funding of European Parties and\nfoundations.
\nIMPACT ASSESSMENT: after a detailed analysis, it is\nproposed that political parties should indeed be financed\nthrough a new instrument (\"contributions\") rather than through an\noperating grant, as it is currently the case.
\nAs regards European political foundations, it\nis considered that they should continue to receive an operating\ngrant. The Commission feels that the request of the European\nParliament to exclude European political foundations also from the\ngrant system is not justified given that the specific\ncharacteristics of European political parties are not the same as\nthe European political foundations.
\nLEGAL BASIS: Article 322 of the Treaty on the\nFunctioning of the European Union (TFEU), in conjunction with the\nTreaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, and in\nparticular Article 106a thereof.
\nCONTENT: the Commission proposal establishes a new\nTitle VIII be inserted in part Two of the Financial Regulation\ndedicated to Contributions to European political parties and it\nrepeals the specific provisions regarding European political\nparties which are currently provided for under Title VI (grants) of\npart One.
\nThe proposal introduces the following\nelements:
\nBUDGETARY IMPLICATION: the envisaged modification of\nthe Financial Regulation has no budgetary implications.
\n\nOpinion No 1/2013 concerning the proposal for a\nregulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the\nstatute and funding of European political parties and European\npolitical foundations and concerning the proposal for a regulation\nof the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation\n(EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 as regards the financing of European\npolitical parties.
\nWhilst acknowledging that the Commissions\nproposals address a number of shortfalls in the provisions\ncurrently in force, the Court feels that some further issues need\nto be addressed in order to encourage a European political culture\nof independence, accountability and responsibility, to strengthen\nscrutiny and avoid the potential abuse of the funding\nrules.
\nThe main points are as follows:
\nDonations: the Court\nconsiders:
\n\n· \nthe definition proposed for the term\ndonation is too narrowly worded, leaving room\nfor European political parties and foundations to circumvent\ntransparency requirements and maximum thresholds;
\n\n· \nthe proposal does not specifically regulate\ndonations from natural or legal persons who provide goods and\nservices for EU institutions or for other public authorities\ninvolved in the management of EU funds;
\n\n· \nno rules are proposed on donations to entities\nwhich are related, directly or indirectly, to European political\nparties or foundations or are otherwise under their effective\ncontrol;
\n\n· \nthe proposal does not specifically regulate\ndonations from private entities based in non- member countries\nor from international organisations.
\n\n· \nclear rules should be set in respect of\ndonations from the public authorities of EU Member States to\nEuropean political parties and European political\nfoundations
\nContributions: whilst\nthe proposal limits donations to a value of EUR 25 000 per year and\nper donor, no ceilings are set for individual contributions from\nmembers of political parties and foundations.
\nLoans: there are no\nprovisions on loans, their sources and their terms and conditions,\nwhich means that there is a risk of rules on donations and\ncontributions being circumvented by receiving loans at particularly\nadvantageous conditions.
\nSanctions: the maximum\namount for fines is limited to 10 % of the annual budget of the\nparty in question corresponding to the year in which the sanction\nis imposed. Fines would be decided by Parliament. For\nirregularities related to donations and contributions, the Court\nrecommends a less discretionary approach. The amount of a fine\nshould be a multiple of the irregular amounts involved, without\na maximum ceiling.
\nFurthermore the Court recommends that mandatory\nadministrative and financial penalties should also apply where the\nEuropean Parliament or the Court are prevented from exercising\ntheir audit powers.
\nDirect donations to candidates or elected\nrepresentatives: the Court draws\nattention to the need for rules regarding the funding of political\nparties to apply mutatis mutandis to the funding of campaigns of\nindividual candidates for European elections or elected\nrepresentatives. This would mitigate the risk of the provisions on\nthe funding of political parties being circumvented by direct\ndonations to candidates or elected representatives.
\nEligibility conditions for EU funding and some other\nconcepts: these should be defined in\ngreater detail including:
\n\n· \nthe nature of the expenditure of European\npolitical parties which may be funded from the EU budget. Such a\ndefinition would provide useful guidance for the calls for\ncontributions to be issued by the European Parliament;
\n\n· \nthe proposal amending the financial\nregulation should also make it clear that European political\nparties receiving a contribution from the general budget shall not\nreceive other funds from the budget.
\nAccounts and reporting obligations: in order to enhance comparability and transparency,\nit would be preferable to have a standardised, accruals-based,\npresentation of accounts and detailed reporting obligations,\nusing a compulsory model, which would apply to all political\nparties and foundations independently of the law applicable in the\nMember State in which they have their seat. Furthermore, those in\ncharge of external audit should be selected, mandated and paid by\nthe European Parliament to ensure consistency in the performance of\nthe external audit function and facilitate the monitoring of this\nactivity.
\nPURPOSE: to amend the Financial Regulation so as to\ntake into account changes proposed by the Commission in its\nproposal for a Regulation on the statute and funding of European\npolitical parties and European political foundations.
\nPROPOSED ACT: Regulation of the European Parliament\nand of the Council.
\nBACKGROUND: the proposal\nfor a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on\nthe statute and funding of European political parties and European\npolitical foundations - which will replace current Regulation\n(EC) No 2004/2003 - contains new\nrules regarding, inter alia, the funding of political\nparties and political foundations at European level. Their\neffectiveness requires that they are accompanied by a corresponding\nset of financial rules anchored in the Financial Regulation\n(Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012).
\nThe proposal follows the European\nParliament resolution of 6 April 2011 regarding the financing\nof the European political parties which considers that, in light of\nthe experience gained, the financing of European political parties\nand European political foundations should be improved as regards a\nnumber of points. In particular, it calls for an end to the system\nof grants and the creation of a new financing instrument in the\nFinancial Regulation devoted solely and tailored specifically\nto the funding of European Parties and\nfoundations.
\nIMPACT ASSESSMENT: after a detailed analysis, it is\nproposed that political parties should indeed be financed\nthrough a new instrument (\"contributions\") rather than through an\noperating grant, as it is currently the case.
\nAs regards European political foundations, it\nis considered that they should continue to receive an operating\ngrant. The Commission feels that the request of the European\nParliament to exclude European political foundations also from the\ngrant system is not justified given that the specific\ncharacteristics of European political parties are not the same as\nthe European political foundations.
\nLEGAL BASIS: Article 322 of the Treaty on the\nFunctioning of the European Union (TFEU), in conjunction with the\nTreaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, and in\nparticular Article 106a thereof.
\nCONTENT: the Commission proposal establishes a new\nTitle VIII be inserted in part Two of the Financial Regulation\ndedicated to Contributions to European political parties and it\nrepeals the specific provisions regarding European political\nparties which are currently provided for under Title VI (grants) of\npart One.
\nThe proposal introduces the following\nelements:
\nBUDGETARY IMPLICATION: the envisaged modification of\nthe Financial Regulation has no budgetary implications.
\nThe European Parliament adopted by 598 votes to 44\nwith 20 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal\nfor a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council\namending Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 as regards the\nfinancing of European political parties.
\nParliament adopted its position at first reading under\nthe ordinary legislative procedure. The amendments adopted in\nplenary were the result of a compromise between Parliament and\nCouncil. They amend the Commissions proposal as\nfollows:
\nContributions: direct\nfinancial contributions from the budget may be awarded to European\npolitical parties in view of their contribution to forming European\npolitical awareness and to expressing the political will of the\ncitizens of the Union in accordance with the provisions of\nRegulation of the\nEuropean Parliament and of the Council on the statute and funding\nof European political parties and European political\nfoundations.
\nThe amendments clarified the following:
\nThe appropriations set aside for independent external\naudit bodies or experts should be charged directly to the budget of\nthe European Parliament.
\nEvaluation procedure: if\nthe application is rejected, the authorising officer should inform\nthe applicant of the available means of administrative and/or\njudicial redress.
\nRules on contributions: where lump sums, flat-rate\nfinancing and unit costs are used, they should be defined in the\ncall for contributions with their respective amounts and rates,\nwhere applicable. The call for contributions should also contain a\ndescription of the methods for determining lump sums, unit costs or\nflat-rate financing, which should be based on objective means such\nas statistical data, certified or auditable historical data of the\nEuropean political parties or their usual cost accounting\npractices
\nUse of contributions:\ncontributions by third parties to joint events should not be\nconsidered as part of the own resources of a European political\nparty.
\nRecord keeping: European\npolitical parties should keep all records and supporting documents,\nand other records pertinent to the contribution for five years\nfollowing the submission of the annual final report and\naccounts.
\nSelection of external audit bodies or\nexperts: the selection should be done\nthrough a public procurement procedure. The term of their contract\nshould be no longer than 5 years. After two consecutive terms, they\nshould be deemed to have conflicting interests, which may\nnegatively affect the performance of the audit.
\nPURPOSE: to amend the Financial Regulation so as to\ntake into account new rules on the statute and funding of European\npolitical parties and European political foundations.
\nLEGISLATIVE ACT: Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1142/2014\nof the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation\n(EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 as regards the financing of European\npolitical parties.
\nCONTENT: this amended Regulation adds specific\nrules on contributions from the EU budget to European political\nparties in view of their contribution to forming European\npolitical awareness and to expressing the political will of the\ncitizens of the Union in accordance with Regulation (EU, Euratom) No\n1141/2014 on the statute and funding of European\npolitical parties and European political foundations.
\nIn its resolution of 6 April 2011 on\nthe application of Regulation (EC) No 2004/2003 on the regulations\ngoverning political parties at European level and the rules\nregarding their funding, the European Parliament, in the light of\nexperience gained, suggested a number of improvements regarding the\nfinancing of European political parties and European political\nfoundations.
\nThe main amendments introduced are the\nfollowing:
\nContributions: in\nprinciple, the contributions to European political\nparties:
\nUse of financial support: the amend Regulation exempts European political\nparties from submitting annual work programmes but oblige them\nto justify ex post the sound use of EU funding. The authorising\nofficer responsible should verify if the funding has been used to\npay reimbursable expenditure as established in the call for\ncontributions within the time limits laid down in this\nRegulation.
\nContributions to European political parties should be\nspent by the end of the financial year following that of their\naward, after which, any unspent funding should be recovered by the\nauthorising officer responsible.
\nENTRY INTO FORCE: 24.11.2014. The Regulation shall\napply from 1.1.2017.
\nPURPOSE: to amend the Financial Regulation so as to\ntake into account changes proposed by the Commission in its\nproposal for a Regulation on the statute and funding of European\npolitical parties and European political foundations.
\nPROPOSED ACT: Regulation of the European Parliament\nand of the Council.
\nBACKGROUND: the proposal\nfor a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on\nthe statute and funding of European political parties and European\npolitical foundations - which will replace current Regulation\n(EC) No 2004/2003 - contains new\nrules regarding, inter alia, the funding of political\nparties and political foundations at European level. Their\neffectiveness requires that they are accompanied by a corresponding\nset of financial rules anchored in the Financial Regulation\n(Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012).
\nThe proposal follows the European\nParliament resolution of 6 April 2011 regarding the financing\nof the European political parties which considers that, in light of\nthe experience gained, the financing of European political parties\nand European political foundations should be improved as regards a\nnumber of points. In particular, it calls for an end to the system\nof grants and the creation of a new financing instrument in the\nFinancial Regulation devoted solely and tailored specifically\nto the funding of European Parties and\nfoundations.
\nIMPACT ASSESSMENT: after a detailed analysis, it is\nproposed that political parties should indeed be financed\nthrough a new instrument (\"contributions\") rather than through an\noperating grant, as it is currently the case.
\nAs regards European political foundations, it\nis considered that they should continue to receive an operating\ngrant. The Commission feels that the request of the European\nParliament to exclude European political foundations also from the\ngrant system is not justified given that the specific\ncharacteristics of European political parties are not the same as\nthe European political foundations.
\nLEGAL BASIS: Article 322 of the Treaty on the\nFunctioning of the European Union (TFEU), in conjunction with the\nTreaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, and in\nparticular Article 106a thereof.
\nCONTENT: the Commission proposal establishes a new\nTitle VIII be inserted in part Two of the Financial Regulation\ndedicated to Contributions to European political parties and it\nrepeals the specific provisions regarding European political\nparties which are currently provided for under Title VI (grants) of\npart One.
\nThe proposal introduces the following\nelements:
\nBUDGETARY IMPLICATION: the envisaged modification of\nthe Financial Regulation has no budgetary implications.
\nThe Committee on Budgets adopted the report by\nIngeborg GRÄSSLE (EPP, DE) on the proposal for a regulation of\nthe European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU,\nEuratom) No 966/2012 as regards the financing of European political\nparties.
\nThe committee recommends that Parliaments\nposition adopted at first reading, according to the ordinary\nlegislative procedure, should be to amend the Commissions\nproposal as follows:
\nRegistration: the report\nstated that if the formation of political parties at European level\nwere to take place independently of their formal registration, they\nshould acquire the legal status of European political parties only\nby means of formal registration.
\nContributions: one of\nthe committees objectives has been to ensure the highest\npossible degree of coherence between this proposal and the proposal for a regulation on\nthe statute and funding of European political parties and European\npolitical foundations, by adapting the report to the modifications\nof the financial rules in the Giannakou report. The amendments take\nup points made by the Court of Auditors in its Opinion\n1/2013.
\nMembers also clarified the following:
\nMoreover, contributions should not be used:
\nLastly, European political parties receiving a\ncontribution should not receive directly or indirectly other funds\nfrom the budget. In particular, donations from the budgets\nof political groups in the European Parliament should be\nprohibited.
\nEvaluation procedure of contribution\nrequests: if the application is\nrejected, the authorising officer should inform the applicant of\nall possible judicial and extrajudicial remedies\navailable.
\nRules applicable to contributions: the proposed amendment is aligned to Article\n124(2)(c) of the Financial Regulation (scope and form of grants\n lump sums, unit costs and flat-rate financing) and adds a\nrequirement to quantify lump sums, flat rates and unit costs in the\ncall for contributions.
\nUse of contributions:\ncontributions by third parties to joint events should not be\nconsidered as part of the own resources of a European political\nparty.
\nReport on the use of contributions: European political parties should broadly and\npublicly report the use of Union contributions in a\ncitizen-friendly, searchable database. They should publish, at\nleast on their website, the final report and accounts.
\nRules on the carry-over of grants to EU political\nparties: Members suggested giving\nEuropean political foundations some additional flexibility in their\nfinancial planning by preserving Article 125(6) of the Financial\nRegulation as amended.
\nThe European Parliament adopted by 598 votes to 44\nwith 20 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal\nfor a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council\namending Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 as regards the\nfinancing of European political parties.
\nParliament adopted its position at first reading under\nthe ordinary legislative procedure. The amendments adopted in\nplenary were the result of a compromise between Parliament and\nCouncil. They amend the Commissions proposal as\nfollows:
\nContributions: direct\nfinancial contributions from the budget may be awarded to European\npolitical parties in view of their contribution to forming European\npolitical awareness and to expressing the political will of the\ncitizens of the Union in accordance with the provisions of\nRegulation of the\nEuropean Parliament and of the Council on the statute and funding\nof European political parties and European political\nfoundations.
\nThe amendments clarified the following:
\nThe appropriations set aside for independent external\naudit bodies or experts should be charged directly to the budget of\nthe European Parliament.
\nEvaluation procedure: if\nthe application is rejected, the authorising officer should inform\nthe applicant of the available means of administrative and/or\njudicial redress.
\nRules on contributions: where lump sums, flat-rate\nfinancing and unit costs are used, they should be defined in the\ncall for contributions with their respective amounts and rates,\nwhere applicable. The call for contributions should also contain a\ndescription of the methods for determining lump sums, unit costs or\nflat-rate financing, which should be based on objective means such\nas statistical data, certified or auditable historical data of the\nEuropean political parties or their usual cost accounting\npractices
\nUse of contributions:\ncontributions by third parties to joint events should not be\nconsidered as part of the own resources of a European political\nparty.
\nRecord keeping: European\npolitical parties should keep all records and supporting documents,\nand other records pertinent to the contribution for five years\nfollowing the submission of the annual final report and\naccounts.
\nSelection of external audit bodies or\nexperts: the selection should be done\nthrough a public procurement procedure. The term of their contract\nshould be no longer than 5 years. After two consecutive terms, they\nshould be deemed to have conflicting interests, which may\nnegatively affect the performance of the audit.
\nPURPOSE: to amend the Financial Regulation so as to\ntake into account new rules on the statute and funding of European\npolitical parties and European political foundations.
\nLEGISLATIVE ACT: Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1142/2014\nof the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation\n(EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 as regards the financing of European\npolitical parties.
\nCONTENT: this amended Regulation adds specific\nrules on contributions from the EU budget to European political\nparties in view of their contribution to forming European\npolitical awareness and to expressing the political will of the\ncitizens of the Union in accordance with Regulation (EU, Euratom) No\n1141/2014 on the statute and funding of European\npolitical parties and European political foundations.
\nIn its resolution of 6 April 2011 on\nthe application of Regulation (EC) No 2004/2003 on the regulations\ngoverning political parties at European level and the rules\nregarding their funding, the European Parliament, in the light of\nexperience gained, suggested a number of improvements regarding the\nfinancing of European political parties and European political\nfoundations.
\nThe main amendments introduced are the\nfollowing:
\nContributions: in\nprinciple, the contributions to European political\nparties:
\nUse of financial support: the amend Regulation exempts European political\nparties from submitting annual work programmes but oblige them\nto justify ex post the sound use of EU funding. The authorising\nofficer responsible should verify if the funding has been used to\npay reimbursable expenditure as established in the call for\ncontributions within the time limits laid down in this\nRegulation.
\nContributions to European political parties should be\nspent by the end of the financial year following that of their\naward, after which, any unspent funding should be recovered by the\nauthorising officer responsible.
\nENTRY INTO FORCE: 24.11.2014. The Regulation shall\napply from 1.1.2017.
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