WRITTEN QUESTION E-3520/02

by Ursula Schleicher (PPE-DE) to the Council

(10 December 2002)

Subject: Statute and financing of European political parties

Since the European Parliament opinion of 17 May 2001, the Council regulation on the statute and financing of European political parties has been the subject of a so far fruitless discussion in the Council of Ministers. On account of criticism from the European Court of Auditors, this regulation is intended to be a transitional measure until the entry into force of the Treaty of Nice, which establishes an autonomous legal basis.

Any new Commission proposal in accordance with the legal basis established by the Treaty of Nice will be debated with the European Parliament under the codecision procedure. How does the Council intend to come to a workable solution for this transitional period that also stands up to criticism from the Court of Auditors?

Reply

(13 May 2003)

The Treaty of Nice, which creates a new legal basis for the Regulation referred to in the question, entered into force on 1 February 2003. There is thus no longer a transitional period in the sense meant by the Honourable Member in her question.