As a transnational coalition of NGOs committed to safeguarding democratic integrity and civic participation at the European level, Citizens Take Over Europe welcomes the recent advances on the ‘Statute and Funding of European Political Parties and Foundations’ which follows the European Parliament’s call from 2020 with its European Democracy Action Plan. However, key reforms remain urgent to ensure that the European democratic sphere becomes truly open, transnational and inclusive, not only for political parties but also for civil society organisations.
- Transparent and Accountable Funding for European Political Parties
In the same way that NGOs and CSOs funds are now more than ever being monitored, so should be the case of funding benefiting political parties and decision-makers receiving EU money. We support the European Parliament’s initiative to enhance transparency in the funding of European political parties and foundations. Improved criteria for funding allocation, stricter controls on misuse of EU funds and the emphasis on political coherence with the Union’s values are critical steps. However, enforcement mechanisms and independent oversight must be further strengthened to prevent abuses, particularly ahead of the next European elections. Public trust depends on robust safeguards – such as the Authority for European Political Parties and European Political Foundations – that guarantee that EU taxpayers’ money is not used to promote anti-democratic agendas. Transparency should also involve citizens and civil society, by including them directly in making sure that Article 2 of the EU treaties* is respected by any allocated EU public fund.
- Enabling transnational political parties
European political parties are pivotal actors in building a European public sphere, yet they remain structurally constrained by national laws. We call for a binding transnational statute that grants European parties legal personality across all Member States, with harmonized rules for registration, operation and electoral participation. This would allow genuine cross-border political engagement, empower citizens to vote on pan-European platforms, and deepen the democratic legitimacy of the EU. We note that the single market ensures that private companies can do it so why prevent representative democracy from being able to act on a common level?
- Enabling transnational Civil Society
A vibrant European democracy must also rest on a strong and interconnected civil society. We therefore reiterate the call, echoed during the Conference on the Future of Europe, for the adoption of a European Statute for Civil Society Organisations. Current legal fragmentation hinders transnational civic action, weakens democratic accountability, and impedes the ability of CSOs to operate across borders. A common legal framework would support transparency, reduce administrative burdens, and protect civic space against shrinking freedoms in some Member States.
We urge the EU institutions to seize the momentum generated by the Conference on the Future of Europe and last European elections to deliver on these democratic reforms. A fully transnational political and civic space is essential to a resilient, participatory and values-based Union.
Citizens Take Over Europe remains committed to monitoring and advocating for these critical developments.
* The European Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities, as laid down in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU).
Note: This text’s first draft was created using AI, and has been edited and approved by the plenary committee of CTOE.
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Sources:
Carriages preview | Legislative Train Schedule
Procedure File: 2021/0375(COD) | Legislative Observatory | European Parliament
MEPs vote for Parliament to sue Commission over €150bn defence loan programme | Euronews
Subsidiarity and proportionality – davelevy . info / wiki
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