PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

Europaudvalget 1999-00
EUU Alm.del Bilag 1565
Offentligt

Modtaget via elektronisk post. Der tages forbehold for evt. fejl

Europaudvalget

(Alm. del - bilag 1565)

traktatændringer

(Offentligt)

Medlemmerne af Folketingets Europaudvalgog deres

stedfortrædere

Bilag Journalnummer

Kontor

400.C.2-0

EU-sekr.

29. september 2000

Til underretning for Folketingets Europaudvalg vedlægges i forbindelse med regeringskonferencen en engelsk version af en meddelelse fra Kommissionen

om statut for europæiske politiske partier, CONFER 4764/00.

Fransk version af meddelelsen er oversendt til Folketingets Europaudvalg den 27. juli 2000.

Dansk version fremsendes, så snart den måtte foreligge.

CONFERENCEOF THE

REPRESENTATIVES OF THE

GOVERNMENTSOF THE

MEMBER STATES

Brussels, 19 July 2000 (25.07)(OR. fr)

CONFER 4764/00LIMITE

TRANSLATION OF LETTER

from :

Bernhard ZEPTER,

Deputy Secretary-

General of the

European

Commission

dated : 14 July 2000

Mr Javier

SOLANA,

Secretary-

General/High

Representative

IGC 2000:

Additional

Commission

contribution to the

Intergovernmental

Conference on

institutional

reform-

Regulations

governing

European political

parties

to :

Subject :

Sir,

I enclose, for the Council's information, a Commission communication on an additional Commission contribution to the Intergovernmental Conference on

institutional reform: regulations governing European political parties.

The communication proposes amending Article 191 of the EC Treaty by adding a specific legal basis enabling regulations and funding rules to be adopted for

European political parties. This initiative follows on from the proposals which the Commission made to the Intergovernmental Conference on

26 January 2000 .

(Complimentary close).

(s.) Bernhard ZEPTER

PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

Encl.: COM(2000) 444 final

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 12.07.2000

COM(2000) 444 final

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION

Additional Commission contribution to the Intergovernmental

Conference on institutional reform

Statute for European political parties

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION

Additional Commission contribution to the Intergovernmental

Conference on institutional reform

Statute for European political parties

Since Maastricht the Treaties have expressly acknowledged the role of European political parties. Article 191 of the EC Treaty states: "Political parties at

European level are important as a factor for integration within the Union. They contribute to forming a European awareness and to expressing the political

will of the citizens of the Union."

However, in the absence of any operational provision, Article 191 has no more than declaratory status. During the debate in the European Parliament on 14

June 2000, the Commission expressed the view that Article 191 should be expanded and made more explicit in order to provide a clear and transparent legal

basis for the organisation of political parties at European level. It announced its intention of bringing forward a proposal to that end.

This initiative follows on from the proposals for the Intergovernmental Conference made by the Commission on 26 January. The Commission had proposed

that, in future, some members of the European Parliament could be elected on European lists. This idea leads naturally to the recognition of European

political parties and would help make electors more aware of the European dimension of political debate.

There are two procedural options:

- a procedure inspired by that laid down in Article 190(5) EC for the adoption of the statute for MEPs (adoption by Parliament after a

Commission opinion and approval by the Council, which, the Commission believes, should act by qualified majority);

- the codecision procedure (adoption by Parliament and the Council on a proposal from the Commission).

In its resolution of 13 April, Parliament advocated the second option. The Commission agrees that it would be better to use the codecision procedure, which

is now well-established, allows each institution to make its contribution and has a proven ability to produce balanced results. On this basis it presents a draft

for a new Article 191 below.

The new Article 191 should also lay down a reasonable time-limit for adoption of the statute. In its resolution, Parliament proposed a time-limit of

twelve months.

PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

In conclusion, the Commission proposes that the Conference add to the present Article 191 a legal basis for adopting a statute for political parties, in

particular the conditions governing their recognition and the rules regarding their funding, within a time-limit to be agreed.

Present text of the EC Treaty

ARTICLE Proposed text NEW ARTICLE 191 Political parties at European level are important as a factor for integration within the Union. They contribute to forming

191Political a European awareness and to expressing the political will of the citizens of the Union.Before [ date to be agreed], the Council, acting in accordance with the

parties

procedure referred to in Article 251, shall lay down the statute for European political parties, in particular the conditions governing their recognition and the

European

rules regarding their funding.

level are

important as

a factor for

integration

within the

Union.

They

contribute

to forming

a European

awareness

and to

expressing

the

political

will of the

citizens of

the Union.