Wo stehen die Europäischen Politischen Parteien?

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In der Plenardebatte zur Überprüfung der Verordnung über das Statut und die Finanzierung Europäischer Politischer Parteien und Stiftungen am Mittwochabend rief der Europaabgeordnete Helmut Scholz (DIE LINKE.) dazu auf, angesichts auseinanderstrebender Dynamiken in der EU zu prüfen, wo die Europäischen Politischen Parteien mit den ihnen neu eingeräumten Rechten stehen und welchen konstruktiven Beitrag sie zur Zukunft der EU leisten können.

 

„Das ist eine politische Fragestellung und entzieht sich der Regelungsverantwortung der Kommission“, so das Mitglied im Ausschuss für Konstitutionelle Fragen (AFCO). „Wo sind also ihre Initiativen zum Ausbau des Initiativrechts sowie des Untersuchungsrechts des Europaparlaments, zur Qualifizierung der Bürgerinitiative zu einem wirklichen Beteiligungsinstrument oder allgemein ihre Initiativen zur Entwicklung demokratischer Teilhabe und sozialer Inklusion? Wo sind ihre Initiativen gegen den zunehmenden alltäglich Rassismus in unseren Gesellschaften, gegen die Überbetonung des Trennenden in der EU?“

Zuvor hatte der Abgeordnete kritisiert, dass es in der vergangenen Wahlperiode angesichts der Ignoranz der damaligen Berichterstatterin sehr schwer gewesen sei, das Dossier über die Europäischen Politischen Parteien mit dem Rat erfolgreich zu verhandeln. Zum anderen würden sich die Rahmenbedingungen für das Agieren der Europäischen Parteien gerade deutlich ändern und auch neue Zielsetzungen aufkommen. Helmut Scholz rief das Parlament nachdrücklich dazu auf, sich dazu eine fundierte Position zu erarbeiten.

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GUE/NGL MEP demands clarity in the regulation and funding of EU political parties

The issue over party funding and regulation has come into wider public attention in recent months due to the controversy surrounding French far-right leader Marine Le Pen and British party UKIP’s alleged misuse of European Parliamentary allowance for electioneering in their home countries.

In the plenary debate on Wednesday evening on the review of the regulation on the Statute and the Funding of European political parties and foundations, GUE/NGL’s Helmut Scholz outlined some of the most pressing concerns he had with this review.

In particular, he wanted to know where the European political parties with their newly granted rights are positioning themselves, and what constructive contribution they should have for the future of the EU in the face of rising disharmony within the bloc.

German MEP – a member on the European Parliament’s Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO) – questioned the idea of allowing more political freedom for the parties and how, at the same time, such rules can ultimately benefit and contribute to the EU’s future. He stressed:

„This is a political question and eludes the regulatory responsibility of the Commission.“

„So where are their initiatives for the expansion of the right of legislative initiative and the right of inquiry to the European Parliament? Where are their contributions for the improvement and development of turning the ‘European Citizen’s Initiative’ into a real instrument of participation? Or their general role and initiatives for strengthening democratic participation and social inclusion?“

“Where are their initiatives against the increase in racism in our societies, or against the overemphasis on the disunity within the EU?“ he asked.

The MEP criticised in the debate that the regulation review comes when in reality it had barely been implemented in the daily work of the EPP. He said:

“This debate is unusual in that this only came about when three of the political groups in the European Parliament – the EPP, S&D and ALDE – requested to have this review of a regulation that is intended to oversee their work even though it has yet to come into force.”

“On the one hand, this is due to the ignorance of the former rapporteur to successfully negotiate this specific dossier with the Council,” he continued.

“On the other, it is necessary to debate this as we look at the politics across the EU’s 28 member states today and we see a significant change in the framework for the activities of the European political parties with new objectives arising all the time. I therefore call on the European Parliament to draw up a sound position on this issue as a matter of urgency,” Scholz concluded.

 

 

GUE/NGL Press Contact:
Ben Leung  +32 22 83 2299 / +32 (0) 470 880 965
European United Left / Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL)
European Parliamentary Group
www.guengl.eu