Regulation (EC) No 2004/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council

Uredba (ES) št. 2004/2003 Evropskega parlamenta in Sveta

of 4 November 2003

z dne 4. novembra 2003

on the regulations governing political parties at European level and the rules regarding their funding

o predpisih, ki urejajo delovanje političnih strank na evropski ravni, in pravilih glede njihovega financiranja

EVROPSKI PARLAMENT IN SVET EVROPSKE UNIJE STA –

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

ob upoštevanju Pogodbe o ustanovitvi Evropske skupnosti in zlasti člena 191 Pogodbe,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 191 thereof,

ob upoštevanju predloga Komisije,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

v skladu s postopkom iz člena 251 Pogodbe [1],

Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty(1),

ob upoštevanju naslednjega:

Whereas:

(1) Člen 191 Pogodbe navaja, da so politične stranke na evropski ravni pomemben povezovalni dejavnik v okviru Unije in da prispevajo k oblikovanju evropske zavesti in izražanju politične volje državljanov Unije.

(1) Article 191 of the Treaty states that political parties at European level are important as a factor for integration within the Union and that they contribute to forming a European awareness and to expressing the political will of the citizens of the Union.

(2) Za politične stranke na evropski ravni bi bilo treba določiti vrsto temeljnih pravil v obliki predpisov, zlasti glede njihovega financiranja. Izkušnje pri uporabi te uredbe naj bi pokazale, v kakšni meri bi bilo treba te predpise dopolniti z nadaljnjimi pravili.

(2) A number of basic rules should be laid down, in the form of regulations, for political parties at European level, in particular with regard to their funding. Experience acquired in applying this Regulation should reveal the extent to which these regulations should, or should not, be supplemented by further rules.

(3) Izkušnje kažejo, da ima politična stranka na evropski ravni za člane državljane, zbrane v obliki politične stranke, ali politične stranke, ki tvorijo zvezo. Zato bi bilo treba pojasniti izraza "politična stranka" in "zveza političnih strank", ki se uporabljata v tej uredbi.

(3) Experience has shown that a political party at European level will have as its members either citizens gathered together in the form of a political party or political parties which together form an alliance. The terms "political party" and "alliance of political parties" used in this Regulation should therefore be clarified.

(4) Za opredelitev "politične stranke na evropski ravni" je treba določiti nekatere pogoje. Politične stranke na evropski ravni morajo zlasti spoštovati načela, na katerih temelji Evropska unija, kakor so opredeljena v Pogodbah in priznana v Listini Evropske unije o temeljnih pravicah.

(4) In order to be able to identify a "political party at European level", it is important to set certain conditions. In particular, it is necessary for political parties at European level to observe the principles on which the European Union is founded, as set out in the Treaties and recognised in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

(5) Treba bi bilo določiti postopek, ki se ga morajo držati politične stranke na evropski ravni, ki želijo dobiti finančna sredstva v skladu s to uredbo.

(5) The procedure to be followed by political parties at European level which wish to receive funding pursuant to this Regulation should be laid down.

(6) Prav tako bi bilo treba predvideti redno preverjanje pogojev, uporabljenih za opredelitev politične stranke na evropski ravni.

(6) Provision should also be made for regular verification of the conditions applied for identifying a political party at European level.

(7) Politične stranke na evropski ravni, ki so dobile finančna sredstva v skladu s to uredbo, bi morale izpolnjevati zahteve glede zagotavljanja preglednosti virov financiranja.

(7) Political parties at European level which have received funding under this Regulation should submit to obligations aimed at ensuring transparency of sources of funding.

(8) V skladu z Izjavo št. 11 o členu 191 Pogodbe o ustanovitvi Evropske skupnosti, ki je priložena Sklepni listini Pogodbe iz Nice, se sredstva, odobrena v skladu s to uredbo, ne bi smela uporabljati za financiranje političnih strank na nacionalni ravni, bodisi neposredno ali posredno. V skladu z navedeno izjavo naj se določbe o financiranju političnih strank na evropski ravni na enaki podlagi uporabljajo za vse politične sile, ki so zastopane v Evropskem parlamentu.

(8) In accordance with Declaration No 11 on Article 191 of the Treaty establishing the European Community annexed to the Final Act of the Treaty of Nice, the funding granted pursuant to this Regulation should not be used to fund, either directly or indirectly, political parties at national level. By virtue of same declaration, the provisions on the funding of political parties at European level should apply, on the same basis, to all the political forces represented in the European Parliament.

(9) Treba bi bilo določiti odhodke, ki se lahko financirajo v skladu s to uredbo.

(9) The nature of the expenditure that can be funded under this Regulation should be defined.

(10) Sredstva, odobrena za financiranje v skladu s to uredbo, naj se določijo v skladu z letnim proračunskim postopkom.

(10) The appropriations allocated to funding under this Regulation should be determined in accordance with the annual budgetary procedure.

(11) Treba je zagotoviti kar največjo preglednost in finančni nadzor političnih strank na evropski ravni, ki so financirane iz splošnega proračuna Evropske unije.

(11) It is necessary to ensure maximum transparency and financial control of political parties at European level funded from the general budget of the European Union.

(12) Določiti bi bilo treba lestvico za razdelitev razpoložljivih proračunskih sredstev za vsako leto, ob upoštevanju, na eni strani, števila upravičencev in na drugi strani, števila izvoljenih poslancev v Evropski parlament.

(12) A scale should be set for distributing the appropriations available each year, taking into account, on the one hand, the number of beneficiaries and, on the other, the number of elected members in the European Parliament.

(13) Tehnična pomoč, ki jo Evropski parlament nudi političnim strankam na evropski ravni, naj se ravna po načelu enakega obravnavanja.

(13) Technical assistance to be afforded by the European Parliament to political parties at European level should be guided by the principle of equal treatment.

(14) O uporabi te uredbe in o financiranih dejavnostih naj Evropski parlament pripravi poročilo, ki naj se objavi.

(14) The application of this Regulation and the activities funded should be examined in a report from the European Parliament which should be published.

(15) Sodni nadzor, ki je v pristojnosti Sodišča, bo pomagal zagotoviti pravilno uporabo te uredbe.

(15) The judicial control which falls within the jurisdiction of the Court of Justice will help ensure the correct application of this Regulation.

(16) Da se olajša prehod na nova pravila, naj se uporaba nekaterih določb te uredbe odloži na čas, ko bo Evropski parlament oblikovan, po volitvah junija 2004 –

(16) In order to facilitate transition towards the new rules, the application of some of the provisions of this Regulation should be postponed until the European Parliament has been formed after the elections due in June 2004,

SPREJELA NASLEDNJO UREDBO:

HAVE ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Člen 1

Predmet in področje uporabe

Article 1

Ta uredba določa pravila o predpisih, ki urejajo delovanje političnih strank na evropski ravni, in pravila o njihovem financiranju.

Subject matter and scope

Člen 2

This Regulation establishes rules on the regulations governing political parties at European level and rules regarding their funding.

Opredelitve pojmov

Za namene te uredbe:

Article 2

1. "politična stranka" pomeni združenje državljanov:

Definitions

- ki uresničuje politične cilje in

For the purposes of this Regulation:

- ki je priznana ali ustanovljena v skladu s pravnim redom vsaj ene države članice;

1. "political party" means an association of citizens:

2. "zveza političnih strank" pomeni organizirano sodelovanje med najmanj dvema političnima strankama;

- which pursues political objectives, and

3. "politična stranka na evropski ravni" pomeni politično stranko ali zvezo političnih strank, ki izpolnjuje pogoje iz člena 3.

- which is either recognised by, or established in accordance with, the legal order of at least one Member State;

Člen 3

2. "alliance of political parties" means structured cooperation between at least two political parties;

Pogoji

3. "political party at European level" means a political party or an alliance of political parties which satisfies the conditions referred to in Article 3.

Politična stranka na evropski ravni izpolnjuje naslednje pogoje:

(a) mora biti pravna oseba v državi članici, v kateri ima svoj sedež;

Article 3

(b) mora biti zastopana, v vsaj eni četrtini držav članic, s poslanci Evropskega parlamenta ali v nacionalnih parlamentih ali regionalnih parlamentih ali v regionalnih skupščinah, ali

Conditions

je morala dobiti, v vsaj eni četrtini držav članic, vsaj tri odstotke oddanih glasov v vsaki od teh držav članic na zadnjih volitvah v Evropski parlament;

A political party at European level shall satisfy the following conditions:

(c) zlasti v svojem programu in dejavnostih se mora ravnati po načelih, na katerih temelji Evropska unija, to so načela svobode, demokracije, spoštovanja človekovih pravic in temeljnih svoboščin ter vladavine prava;

(a) it must have legal personality in the Member State in which its seat is located;

(d) morala je sodelovati v volitvah za Evropski parlament ali izraziti namen za sodelovanje.

(b) it must be represented, in at least one quarter of Member States, by Members of the European Parliament or in the national Parliaments or regional Parliaments or in the regional assemblies, or

Člen 4

it must have received, in at least one quarter of the Member States, at least three per cent of the votes cast in each of those Member States at the most recent European Parliament elections;

Zahtevek za financiranje

(c) it must observe, in particular in its programme and in its activities, the principles on which the European Union is founded, namely the principles of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law;

1. Za pridobitev financiranja iz splošnega proračuna Evropske unije mora politična stranka na evropski ravni vsako leto vložiti zahtevek pri Evropskem parlamentu.

(d) it must have participated in elections to the European Parliament, or have expressed the intention to do so.

Evropski parlament odloči v treh mesecih ter odobri in upravlja ustrezna proračunska sredstva.

2. Prvemu zahtevku se priložijo naslednji dokumenti:

Article 4

(a) dokumenti, ki dokazujejo, da prosilec izpolnjuje pogoje iz člena 3;

Application for funding

(b) politični program, ki navaja cilje politične stranke na evropski ravni;

1. In order to receive funding from the general budget of the European Union, a political party at European level shall file an application with the European Parliament each year.

(c) statut, v katerem so opredeljeni zlasti organi, zadolženi za politično in finančno vodenje, ter organi ali fizične osebe, ki so v vsaki zadevni državi članici pooblaščeni za pravno zastopanje, zlasti glede pridobivanja premičnin in nepremičnin ali razpolaganja z njimi ter sposobnosti biti stranka v sodnih postopkih.

The European Parliament shall adopt a decision within three months and authorise and manage the corresponding appropriations.

3. Vsako spremembo dokumentov iz odstavka 2, zlasti političnega programa ali statuta, ki sta bila že predložena, se Evropskemu parlamentu sporoči v roku dveh mesecev. Če takega sporočila ni, se financiranje ustavi.

2. The first application shall be accompanied by the following documents:

Člen 5

(a) documents proving that the applicant satisfies the conditions laid down in Article 3;

Preverjanje

(b) a political programme setting out the objectives of the political party at European level;

1. Evropski parlament redno preverja, če politične stranke na evropski ravni še vedno izpolnjujejo pogoje iz člena 3(a) in (b).

(c) a statute defining in particular the bodies responsible for political and financial management as well as the bodies or natural persons holding, in each of the Member States concerned, the power of legal representation, in particular for the purposes of the acquisition or disposal of movable and immovable property and of being a party to legal proceedings.

2. Glede pogoja iz člena 3(c) Evropski parlament na zahtevo vsaj ene četrtine svojih poslancev, ki zastopajo vsaj tri politične skupine v Evropskem parlamentu, z večino svojih članov preveri, ali politična stranka na evropski ravni še vedno izpolnjuje zadevni pogoj.

3. Any amendment concerning the documents referred to in paragraph 2, in particular a political programme or statute, which have already been presented, shall be notified to the European Parliament within two months. In the absence of such notification, funding shall be suspended.

Pred preverjanjem Evropski parlament zasliši predstavnike zadevne politične stranke na evropski ravni in zaprosi odbor neodvisnih uglednih oseb, da v razumnem roku pripravi mnenje o zadevi.

Odbor sestavljajo trije člani, pri čemer Evropski parlament, Svet in Komisija imenujejo vsak po enega člana. Sekretariat in finančna sredstva za odbor zagotovi Evropski parlament.

Article 5

3. Če Evropski parlament ugotovi, da kateri od pogojev iz člena 3(a), (b) in (c) ni več izpolnjen, se politično stranko na evropski ravni, ki je zato izgubila ta status, izključi iz financiranja po tej uredbi.

Verification

Člen 6

1. The European Parliament shall verify regularly that the conditions set out in Article 3(a) and (b) continue to be met by political parties at European level.

Obveznosti glede financiranja

2. With regard to the condition specified in Article 3(c), at the request of one quarter of its members, representing at least three political groups in the European Parliament, the European Parliament shall verify, by a majority of its members, that the condition in question continues to be met by a political party at European level.

Politična stranka na evropski ravni:

Before carrying out such verification, the European Parliament shall hear the representatives of the relevant political party at European level and ask a committee of independent eminent persons to give an opinion on the subject within a reasonable period.

(a) mora letno objaviti svoje prihodke in odhodke in izkaz stanja sredstev in obveznosti;

The committee shall consist of three members, with the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission each appointing one member. The secretariat and funding of the committee shall be provided by the European Parliament.

(b) mora prijaviti svoje vire financiranja s seznamom donatorjev in donacij, prejetih od vsakega donatorja, razen donacij pod 500 EUR;

3. If the European Parliament finds that any of the conditions referred to in Article 3(a), (b) and (c) is no longer satisfied, the relevant political party at European level, which has for this reason forfeited this status, shall be excluded from funding under this Regulation.

(c) ne sme sprejeti:

- anonimnih donacij,

Article 6

- donacij iz proračunov političnih skupin v Evropskem parlamentu,

Obligations linked to funding

- donacij od podjetij, v katerih imajo organi oblasti posredno ali neposredno prevladujoč vpliv zaradi lastništva, finančnega sodelovanja v teh podjetjih ali zaradi predpisov, ki jih urejajo,

A political party at European level shall:

- donacij preko 12000 EUR na leto na donatorja od katere koli pravne ali fizične osebe, razen podjetij iz tretje alinee, in ne glede na drugo alineo.

(a) publish its revenue and expenditure and a statement of its assets and liabilities annually;

Dopustni so prispevki političnih strank, ki so članice politične stranke na evropski ravni. Ne smejo pa preseči 40 % strankinega letnega proračuna.

(b) declare its sources of funding by providing a list specifying the donors and the donations received from each donor, with the exception of donations not exceeding EUR 500;

Člen 7

(c) not accept:

Prepoved financiranja

- anonymous donations,

Financiranje političnih strank na evropski ravni iz splošnega proračuna Evropske unije ali iz katerega koli drugega vira se ne sme uporabljati za neposredno ali posredno financiranje drugih političnih strank, zlasti nacionalnih političnih strank, za katere še naprej velja nacionalna zakonodaja.

- donations from the budgets of political groups in the European Parliament,

Člen 8

- donations from any undertaking over which the public authorities may exercise directly or indirectly a dominant influence by virtue of their ownership of it, their financial participation therein, or the rules which govern it,

Vrste odhodkov

- donations exceeding EUR 12000 per year and per donor from any natural or legal person other than the undertakings referred to in the third indent and without prejudice to the second subparagraph.

Sredstva, prejeta iz proračuna Evropske unije v skladu s to uredbo, se lahko uporabijo samo za odhodke, ki so neposredno povezani s cilji, navedenimi v političnem programu iz člena 4(2)(b).

Contributions from political parties which are members of a political party at European level shall be admissible. They may not exceed 40 % of that party's annual budget.

Ti odhodki zajemajo administrativne odhodke in odhodke za tehnično pomoč, sestanke, raziskave, čezmejne dejavnosti, študije, informiranje in objave.

Člen 9

Article 7

Izvajanje in nadzor

Prohibition of funding

1. Proračunska sredstva za financiranje političnih strank se določijo po letnem proračunskem postopku in se izvajajo v skladu s Finančno uredbo, ki se uporablja za splošni proračun Evropskih skupnosti [2].

The funding of political parties at European level from the general budget of the European Union or from any other source may not be used for the direct or indirect funding of other political parties, and in particular national political parties, which shall continue to be governed by national rules.

2. Vrednotenje premičnin in nepremičnih in njihova amortizacija se izvede v skladu z Uredbo Komisije (ES) št. 2909/200 z dne 29. decembra 2000 o računovodskem vodenju nefinančnih stalnih sredstev Evropskih skupnosti [3].

3. Nadzor nad finančnimi sredstvi, odobrenimi s to uredbo, se izvaja v skladu s Finančno uredbo in pravili za njeno izvajanje.

Article 8

Nadzor se izvaja tudi na podlagi letnega poročila, ki ga izda zunanji neodvisni revizor. To poročilo se v šestih mesecih po koncu zadevnega proračunskega leta pošlje Evropskemu parlamentu.

Nature of expenditure

4. Ko se začne uporabljati ta uredba, je treba vsa sredstva, ki so jih politične stranke na evropski ravni neupravičeno prejele iz proračuna Evropske unije, vrniti v proračun.

Appropriations received from the general budget of the European Union in accordance with this Regulation may only be used to meet expenditure directly linked to the objectives set out in the political programme referred to in Article 4(2)(b).

5. Politične stranke na evropski ravni, ki so financirane po tej uredbi, na zahtevo Računskemu sodišču pošljejo vse dokumente ali informacije, ki jih ta potrebuje za izvajanje svoje naloge.

Such expenditure shall include administrative expenditure and expenditure linked to technical assistance, meetings, research, cross-border events, studies, information and publications.

Če odhodki političnih strank na evropski ravni nastanejo skupaj z nacionalnimi političnimi strankami in drugimi organizacijami, je treba dati Računskemu sodišču na razpolago podatke o odhodkih političnih strank na evropski ravni.

6. Za financiranje političnih strank na evropski ravni, ki delujejo kot organi splošnega evropskega interesa, ne veljajo določbe člena 113 Finančne uredbe o zmanjševanju financiranja.

Article 9

Člen 10

Implementation and control

Razporejanje

1. Appropriations for funding political parties at European level shall be determined under the annual budgetary procedure and shall be implemented in accordance with the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities(2).

1. Razpoložljiva proračunska sredstva se letno razporedijo med politične stranke na evropski ravni, katerih zahtevek za financiranje iz člena 4 je bil ugodno rešen, na naslednji način:

2. The valuation of movable and immovable property and its depreciation shall be carried out in accordance with Commission Regulation (EC) No 2909/2000 of 29 December 2000 on the accounting management of the European Communities' non-financial fixed assets(3).

(a) 15 % se razporedi v enakih deležih;

3. Control of funding granted under this Regulation shall be exercised in accordance with the Financial Regulation and the implementing rules thereto.

(b) 85 % se razporedi med tiste, ki imajo poslance v Evropskem parlamentu, sorazmerno s številom teh poslancev.

Control shall also be exercised on the basis of annual certification by an external and independent audit. This certification shall be transmitted, within six months of the end of the financial year concerned, to the European Parliament.

Za uporabo teh določb je lahko poslanec Evropskega parlamenta član samo ene politične stranke na evropski ravni.

4. Further to application of this Regulation, any funds improperly received by political parties at European level from the general budget of the European Union shall be refunded to that budget.

2. Sredstva iz splošnega proračuna Evropske unije ne smejo presegati 75 % proračuna politične stranke na evropski ravni. Dokazno breme nosi zadevna politična stranka na evropski ravni.

5. Any document or information required by the Court of Auditors in order to carry out its task shall be supplied to it at its request by the political parties at European level receiving funding granted under this Regulation.

Člen 11

Where expenditure is committed by political parties at European level jointly with national political parties and other organisations, evidence of the expenditure incurred by the political parties at European level shall be made available to the Court of Auditors.

Tehnična pomoč

6. Funding of political parties at European level in their capacity as bodies pursuing an objective of general European interest shall not be subject to the provisions of Article 113 of the Financial Regulation relating to the decreasing of the funding.

Vsa tehnična pomoč Evropskega parlamenta političnim strankam na evropski ravni se izvaja po načelu enakega obravnavanja. Odobri se pod pogoji, ki niso manj ugodni od pogojev, odobrenih drugim zunanjim organizacijam in združenjem, ki se jim lahko odobrijo podobne ugodnosti, in se nudi na podlagi računa in plačila.

Evropski parlament v letnem poročilu objavi podatke o tehnični pomoči, nudeni vsaki od političnih strank na evropski ravni.

Article 10

Člen 12

Distribution

Poročilo

1. Available appropriations shall be distributed annually as follows among the political parties at European level which have obtained a positive decision on their application for funding as referred to in Article 4:

Evropski parlament najpozneje 15. februarja 2006 objavi poročilo o uporabi te uredbe in o financiranih dejavnostih. Poročilo mora navesti, kjer je primerno, spremembe, ki bi jih bilo treba uvesti v sistem financiranja.

(a) 15 % shall be distributed in equal shares;

Člen 13

(b) 85 % shall be distributed among those which have elected members in the European Parliament, in proportion to the number of elected members.

Začetek veljavnosti in uporaba

For the application of these provisions, a Member of the European Parliament may be a member of only one political party at European level.

Ta uredba začne veljati tri mesece po objavi v Uradnem listu Evropske unije.

2. Funding charged to the general budget of the European Union shall not exceed 75 % of the budget of a political party at European level. The burden of proof shall rest with the relevant political party at European level.

Členi 4 do 10 se uporabljajo od dneva začetka prvega zasedanja Evropskega parlamenta po volitvah junija 2004.

Ta uredba je v celoti zavezujoča in se neposredno uporablja v vseh državah članicah.

Article 11

Technical support

V Bruslju, 4. novembra 2003

All technical support from the European Parliament to political parties at European level shall be based on the principle of equal treatment. It shall be granted on conditions no less favourable than those granted to other external organisations and associations that may be accorded similar facilities and shall be supplied against invoice and payment.

Za Evropski parlament

The European Parliament shall publish details of the technical support provided to each political party at European level in an annual report.

Predsednik

P. Cox

Article 12

Za Svet

Report

Predsednik

The European Parliament shall publish a report not later than 15 February 2006 on the application of this Regulation and the activities funded. The report shall indicate, where appropriate, possible amendments to be made to the funding system.

G. Tremonti

[1] Mnenje Evropskega parlamenta z dne 19. junija 2003 (še ni objavljeno v Uradnem listu) in Sklep Sveta z dne 29. septembra 2003.

Article 13

[2] Uredba Sveta (ES, Euratom) št. 1605/2002 z dne 25. junija 2002 o finančni uredbi, ki se uporablja za splošni proračun Evropskih skupnosti (UL L 248, 16.9.2002, str. 1).

Entry into force and application

[3] UL L 336, 30.12.2000, str. 75.

This Regulation shall enter into force three months following the date of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

--------------------------------------------------

Articles 4 to 10 shall apply from the date of the opening of the first session held after the European Parliament elections of June 2004.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 4 November 2003.

For the European Parliament

The President

P. Cox

For the Council

The President

G. Tremonti

(1) Opinion of the European Parliament of 19 June 2003 (not yet published in the Official Journal) and Council Decision of 29 September 2003.

(2) Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities (OJ L 248, 16.9.2002, p. 1).

(3) OJ L 336, 30.12.2000, p. 75.