European political foundation

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A European political foundation, formerly known as a political foundation at European level, [note 1] is a type of political foundation affiliated to, but independent from, a European political party, and operating transnationally in Europe and within the institutions of the European Union (EU).

Contents

European political foundations carry specific political activities and are networks of national political foundations. They are regulated and funded by EU Regulation 1141/2014 on the statute and funding of European political parties and European political foundations, and their operations are supervised by the Authority for European Political Parties and European Political Foundations (APPF).

History

1970s–2003

European political parties formed during the 1970s, in the run-up to the first elections of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage. In 1992, the Treaty of Maastricht [1] provided the first legal recognition of European parties and, in 1997, the Treaty of Amsterdam enabled the public funding of European parties via political groups of the European Parliament. [2] Following criticism of this arrangement by the European Court of Auditors, the 2001 Treaty of Nice allowed the funding of European parties directly from the budget of the European Union. [3]

In November 2003, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union adopted Regulation 2004/2003 "on the regulations governing political parties at European level and the rules regarding their funding", which provided the first official definition of European political parties and created a framework for their public funding. [4] However, the Regulation did not provide legal recognition or public funding for European political foundations.

2006–07

In its Resolution of 23 March 2006 on European parties, the European Parliament considered that, "during the present phase of reflection on the future of the European Union", several questions ought to be considered, including the way in which "European political foundations [can] be supported in order to assist in European political parties' work of political information and education." [5] The European Parliament called on the European Commission to submit proposals on this topic, but did not explicitly call for the public funding of European foundations.

In December 2007, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union adopted Regulation 1524/2007, amending Regulation 2004/2003, among others by providing a legal definition for European political foundations and including them in the existing public funding scheme. [6]

European political foundations were defined as "an entity or network of entities which has legal personality in a Member State, is affiliated with a political party at European level, and which through its activities, within the aims and fundamental values pursued by the European Union, underpins and complements the objectives of the political party at European level by performing, in particular, [...] observing, analysing and contributing to the debate on European public policy issues and on the process of European integration; developing activities linked to European public policy issues [...]; developing cooperation with entities of the same kind in order to promote democracy; [and] serving as a framework for national political foundations, academics, and other relevant actors to work together at European level."

The new framework provided that, out of a total envelope, 15% would be distributed equally (the lump sum), and 85% would be distributed in proportion to each party's number of members of the European Parliament (MEP-based funding). Additionally, public funding could not exceed 85% of a European foundation's reimbursable expenditure (referred to as the "co-financing rate"); this means that European foundations were required to raise 15% of their budget from specific private sources ("own resources"), such as donations or member contributions. Regulation 1524/2007 also updated transparency obligations, limitations on donations, and prohibitions on spending, and applied them to European parties and foundations.

2014

Vera Jourova, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Values and Transparency, and Pascal Schonard, Director of the APPF Meeting of Vera Jourova, Vice-President of the European Commission, and Pascal Schonard, Director of the APPF.jpg
Vĕra Jourová, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Values and Transparency, and Pascal Schonard, Director of the APPF

In October 2014, the European Parliament and the Council adopted Regulation 1141/2014, which replaced Regulation 2004/2003 and overhauled the framework for European political parties and foundations, including by giving them a European legal status. [7] It also established the Authority for the European political parties and European political foundations (APPF), [8] a standalone entity for the purpose of registering, controlling, and imposing sanctions on European parties and foundations.

Regulation 1141/2014 applied as of 1 January 2017, and covered the activities of European parties and foundations starting with the financial year 2018. Since then, applications for public funding are placed with the APPF, but decisions on funding remain with the European Parliament.

2018–19

In May 2018, the European Parliament and the Council adopted Regulation 2018/673, which amended Regulation 1141/2014 by detailing provisions relating to the registration of political parties and foundations, and transparency regarding political programmes and party logos. [9]

Among others, Regulation 2018/673 introduced a number of changes, including the following: [10]

In March 2019, the European Parliament and the Council adopted Regulation 2019/493, which further amended Regulation 1141/2014. [11] Changes focused mostly on the use of personal data by European political parties and foundations. The modalities of the implementation of the Regulation were later updated by the Decision of the Bureau of the European Parliament of 1 July 2019. [12]

2020s

In June 2021, in line with Article 38 of Regulation 1141/2014, MEPs Charles Goerens (ALDE) and Rainer Wieland (EPP) of the European Parliament's Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO) presented a draft report on the implementation of the Regulation. With regards to funding, the draft report called on the Commission and co-legislators to clarify the definition of indirect funding from European political parties and foundations to national member parties, remove the ban on financing referendum campaigns on European issues, allow the funding of European parties from non-EU national parties and foundations (which, following Brexit, meant that political parties and foundations in the UK could no longer finance their European counterparts), broaden the categories of private funding, decrease European parties' co-financing rate, and simplify accounting procedures. [13]

In November 2021, the European Commission proposed a text for a new regulation aimed at replacing Regulation 1141/2021, using the recast procedure. [14] In March 2022, the Council of the European Union adopted a political agreement (its own negotiating position). [15] In July 2022, the European Parliament's AFCO Committee adopted its own position, which was endorsed by the Plenary in September 2022. [16] Trilogues between the European Parliament, Council of the European Union, and European Commission took place in September, October and November 2022, and in March 2023, but did not reach an agreement.

Funding

European foundations use public and private funding to finance their activities; public funding refers exclusively to funding from the general budget of the European Union, and cannot directly come from Member States or third countries, or entities under their control.

With regards to public funding, each year, the European Parliament allocates a total amount of money to fund European political foundations affiliated to European parties qualifying for European public funding: 10% of this amount is distributed via a lump sum, allocated equally to all qualifying European foundations, while 90% is distributed in proportion to the share of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) who are members of foundations' parties of affiliation.

For the financial year 2025, European political foundations were allocated a total of €24 million. [17] Depending on their own application for European public funding and on their amount of "reimbursable expenses", European foundations may in fine receive less than their maximum allocation. European public funding accounts for the vast majority of European foundations' income. [18]

For instance, the comparison of maximum allocations and final amounts of public funding for the year 2021 was as follows: [19]

European foundationMaximum allocationFinal amountShare of maximum allocation obtained
Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies € 6,144,286€ 5,963,14197.05%
Foundation for European Progressive Studies € 4,996,447€ 4,959,36099.26%
European Liberal Forum € 2,636,977€ 2,636,977100.00%
Green European Foundation € 2,238,717€ 2,088,79293.30%
New Direction € 2,052,425€ 2,052,425100.00%
Patriots for Europe Foundation € 2,121,196€ 577,02727.20%
Transform Europe € 1,192,791€ 1,191,36699.88%
Institute of European Democrats € 538,448€ 502,10993.25%
Coppieters Foundation € 572,715€ 561,14997.98%
Sallux € 401,927€ 401,927100.00%

With regards to private funding, European foundations mostly receive financial contributions from their national member parties, which, in turn, almost always receive public funding from Member States. Donations from legal persons and, especially, from individuals only play a limited role. [18]

The APPF monitors donations and contributions to European political foundations, and publishes a yearly list of donors.

European political foundations

Current European foundations

As of September 2024, there are ten European political foundations registered with the APPF: [20]

NameAbbr.PresidentFounded European political party Political Group
Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies WMCES Mikuláš Dzurinda (SK)2007 European People's Party EPP Group
Foundation for European Progressive Studies FEPS Maria João Rodrigues (PT)2008 Party of European Socialists S&D
European Liberal Forum ELF Jan-Christoph Oetjen (DE)2007 Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party Renew
Green European Foundation GEFDirk Holemans (BE), Susanne Rieger (AT)2008 European Green Party Greens/EFA
New Direction ND Tomasz Poręba (PL)2010 European Conservatives and Reformists Party ECR
Patriots for Europe Foundation PfEF András László (HU)2015 Patriots.eu PfE
Transform Europe TE Marga Ferré  [ es ] (ES), Cornelia Hildebrandt (DE)2001 Party of the European Left The Left
Institute of European Democrats IED Francesco Rutelli (IT)2004 European Democratic Party Renew
Coppieters Foundation CF Xabier Macias Virgós (ES)2007 European Free Alliance Greens/EFA
Sallux SalluxDavid Fieldsend (UK)2011 European Christian Political Movement ECR, EPP Group

Former European foundations

The entities below were formerly registered with the APPF. [21]

NameAbbr.Affiliated withFoundedRemoved from register
Europa Terra Nostra ETN Alliance for Peace and Freedom 24 April 201813 September 2018 [22]

The entities below qualified at some point for European public funding; however, they were never registered with the APPF. [23]

NameAbbr.Affiliated toFoundedDissolvedReceived European public funding
EUROPA – Osservatorio sulle politiche dell'unioneEUROPA Alliance for Europe of the Nations 200720092007–2008 [note 2]
Les Refondateurs Européens [note 3] AEN Alliance of Independent Democrats in Europe 200720092007–2008 [note 4]
Foundation for EU DemocracyFEUD Europeans United for Democracy 200720102007–2010
Organisation for European Interstate CooperationOEIC Europeans United for Democracy 201120162011–2016
European Foundation for FreedomEFF European Alliance for Freedom 201120162011–2016
Foundation for a Europe of Liberties and DemocracyFELD Movement for a Europe of Liberties and Democracy 201220152012–2015
Identités et Traditions EuropéennesITE Alliance of European National Movements 201320162013–2016
Initiative for Direct Democracy in EuropeIDDE Alliance for Direct Democracy in Europe 201520162015–2015
Foundation PegasusFP Coalition for Life and Family 20172017 [note 5] [24]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ European political foundations were referred to as "political foundation at European level" in Regulation 1524/2007, which set up a framework for their public funding; they remained referred to as such in subsequent official documents related to funding. This label changed to "European political foundations" with the adoption of Regulation 1141/2014 of October 2014, and in all funding-related document following the entry into force of this Regulation in 2016.
  2. ↑ As part of the pilot programme of the European Commission.
  3. ↑ Changed its name to "Association pour la Fédération Politique Européenne pour la Démocratie" in April 2008.
  4. ↑ As part of the pilot programme of the European Commission.
  5. ↑ The note of the Secretary-General of the European Parliament on the 2017 final reports of political parties and foundations at European level states that "one party and one foundation, for which the pre-financing has not been paid, have neither cooperated with the external auditor nor submitted a final report for the financial year 2017. All attempts of the European Parliament services to contact the respective beneficiaries remained unsuccessful. It appears that the two entities ceased their activities. Considering the circumstances and the non-cooperation with the European Parliament it is proposed that the Bureau sets the final grant amount to zero." Later, it concludes that "for all 22 beneficiaries mentioned in this note (except for EUD, CVF and FP) [...] it is therefore proposed to approve the final reports." Since EUD had waived its request for a grant, this only leaves Coalition pour la vie et la famille and its affiliated Pegasus Foundation as the "one party and one foundation" referred to above. Annex 1 of the note confirms that no pre-financing had been paid to these two entities.

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References

  1. ↑ Treaty on European Union (Treaty OJ C 191, Title II, Article G.E.41). 29 July 1992.
  2. ↑ Treaty of Amsterdam amending the Treaty on European Union, the Treaties establishing the European Communities and certain related acts (Treaty OJ C 340, Articles J.18, K.13). 10 November 1997.
  3. ↑ Treaty of Nice amending the Treaty on European Union, the Treaties establishing the European Communities and certain related acts (Treaty OJ C 80, Article 2.19). 10 March 2001. p. 114.
  4. ↑ Regulation (EC) No 2004/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 November 2003 on the regulations governing political parties at European level and the rules regarding their funding (Regulation 2004/2003). The European Parliament and the Council of the European Union. 4 November 2003.
  5. ↑ on European political parties (Resolution 2005/2224(INI)). European Parliament. 23 March 2006.
  6. ↑ Regulation (EC) No 1524/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2007 amending Regulation (EC) No 2004/2003 on the regulations governing political parties at European level and the rules regarding their funding (Regulation (EC) 1524/2007). European Parliament and Council of the European Union. 18 December 2007.
  7. ↑ Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2014 on the statute and funding of European political parties and European political foundations (Regulation (EU, Euratom) 1141/2014, Article 12). European Parliament and Council of the European Union. 22 October 2014.
  8. ↑ "The Authority | About us | Authority for European Political Parties andEuropean Political Foundations". appf.
  9. ↑ Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/673 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 May 2018 amending Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014 on the statute and funding of European political parties and European political foundations (Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/673). European Parliament and Council of the European Union. 3 May 2018.
  10. ↑ Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/673 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 May 2018 amending Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014 on the statute and funding of European political parties and European political foundations (Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/673, Articles 1.6, 1.8). European Parliament and Council of the European Union. 3 May 2018.
  11. ↑ Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2019/493 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 March 2019 amending Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014 as regards a verification procedure related to infringements of rules on the protection of personal data in the context of elections to the European Parliament (Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2019/493). European Parliament and Council of the European Union. 25 March 2019.
  12. ↑ Decision of the Bureau of the European Parliament of 1 July 2019 laying down the procedures for implementing Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the statute and funding of European political parties and European political foundations (Decision 2019/C 249/0). Bureau of the European Parliament. 1 July 2019.
  13. ↑ Goerens, Charles; Wieland, Rainer (21 June 2021). Draft report on the application of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014 on the statute and funding of European political parties and European political foundations (PDF) (Report). Committee on Constitutional Affairs of the European Parliament. 2021/2018(INI).
  14. ↑ Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the statute and funding of European political parties and European political foundations (recast) (Report). European Commission. 25 November 2021. COM/2021/734 final.
  15. ↑ "Council of the EU takes steps towards more transparent funding of European political parties". Council of the European Union. 22 March 2022.
  16. ↑ "European political parties and foundations: MEPs ready to negotiate new rules". European Parliament. 15 September 2022.
  17. ↑ Call for proposals (No IX-2025/02), Grants to European political foundations (Document C/2024/3259). European Parliament, Director General for Finance. 24 June 2024.
  18. 1 2 "Audit reports and donations". Contracts and Grants. European Parliament. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  19. ↑ Secretary-General of the European Parliament (9 January 2023). 2021 final reports of European political parties and foundations, Annex 3 (PDF) (Report). European Parliament – via European Party Funding Observatory.
  20. ↑ "Registered parties". Authority for European Political Parties and European Political Foundations. Archived from the original on 26 May 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  21. ↑ "Registered parties". Authority for European Political Parties and European Political Foundations. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  22. ↑ Decision of the Authority for European Political Parties and European Political Foundations of 13 September 2018 to remove Europa Terra Nostra from the Register (Decision 2018/C 418/05, 19.11.2018). Authority for European Political Parties and European Political Foundations. 13 September 2018.
  23. ↑ "EPFO Wikibase". European Party Funding Observatory. European Democracy Consulting Stiftung. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  24. ↑ Secretary-General of the European Parliament (30 August 2018). 2017 final reports of political parties and foundations at European level (PDF) (Report). European Parliament. p. 10 – via European Party Funding Observatory.
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