A European political party, known formally as a political party at European level[1] and informally as a Europarty,[2][3] is a type of political party organisation operating transnationally in Europe and within the institutions of the European Union (EU). 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).
European political parties – mostly consisting of national member parties, and few individual members – have the right to campaign during the European elections, for which they often adopt manifestos outlining their positions and ambitions. Ahead of the elections, some of them designate their preferred candidate (known as Spitzenkandidat or lead candidate) to be the next President of the European Commission. The work of European parties can be supplemented by that of an officially affiliated European political foundation; foundations are independent from European parties and contribute to the public debate on policy issues and European integration.[4]
European parties' counterparts in the European Parliament are the Parliament's political groups.[5] European parties influence the decision-making process of the European Council through coordination meetings with their affiliated heads of state and government.[6] They also work closely with their members in the European Commission.
In addition to the registered European political parties, many other entities are politically active at the European level without meeting the criteria for registration or wishing to register.
- ^ "Political parties and political foundations at European level". European Parliament.
- ^ Ahrens, Petra; Miller, Cherry (11 May 2023). "The relationships between Europarties and European political groups: changing formal and informal rules and the Spitzenkandidatur". Journal of Contemporary European Research. 19 (1). doi:10.30950/jcer.v19i1.1283. ISSN 1815-347X.
- ^ Clasen, Patrick (2020), Kaeding, Michael; Müller, Manuel; Schmälter, Julia (eds.), "Does the Europarty Still not Matter? European Elections 2019 and the Party of European Socialists", Die Europawahl 2019: Ringen um die Zukunft Europas, Springer, pp. 39–51, doi:10.1007/978-3-658-29277-5_4, ISBN 978-3-658-29277-5, S2CID 219478341
- ^ 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, 2). European Parliament and Council of the European Union. 22 October 2014.
- ^ "European political parties". European Parliament.
- ^ European political parties and the European Council: A pattern of ever closer coordination? (Report). European Parliament Research Service. 2022. PE 699.476.