AFCO / European Parliament / European parties / European Union / Political Parties

49 recommendations for the reform of European parties (edited)

European Democracy Consulting and REPRESENT propose 49 recommendations for the reform of European political parties.

Council of the European Union / Elections / European parties / European Union / Political Parties

The Ranked apportionment method — report for the Council of the EU

This report, written for the benefit of the Council of the European Union, highlights the shortcomings of the European Parliament’s proposal for a Union-wide constituency and introduces the Ranked apportionment method.

AFCO / European Parliament / European parties / European Union / Institutions / Political Parties / Transparency

European parties: oversight nowhere in sight?

Instead of the mere band-aid of transnational lists, let us reform EU parties and engage on a bold reform to engage citizens and make our election truly European.

Council of the European Union / European parties / European Union / Political Parties / Transparency

Improving the Council’s proposal for the reform of European parties

Ahead of trilogues, European Democracy Consulting provides the Council with amendment proposals regarding the framework regulating European political parties.

AFCO / Elections / European Parliament / European parties / European Union / Politics / Quick review

Transnational lists deserve better

This quick review critically analyses three major components of the design of transnational lists: the size of the constituency, the apportionment method, and the distribution method.

AFCO / European parties / Political Parties / Quick review

Visualising donations and contributions 2022

This report by European Democracy Consulting presents visualisations for European parties’ donations and contributions between 2018 and 2020.

AFCO / European Parliament / European parties / European Union / Political Parties

Assessing the European Commission’s proposal for the reform of European political parties

European Democracy Consulting provides a full review and analysis of the European Commission proposal for a revision of Regulation 1141/2014 on European political parties.

European Union / Institutions / Politics

Geographical Representation in EU Leadership Observatory 2022

The 2022 Geographical Representation in EU Leadership Observatory analyses recent appointments to EU leadership positions.

European Parliament / European parties / European Union / Political Parties

The European Parliament, European parties, and the use of public funds

With the European Ombudsman and Court of Auditors unwilling to address alleged maladministration, legislative reform of European party funding is essential.

AFCO / Elections / European Parliament / European Union / Politics

The Ranked apportionment method

The Ranked apportionment method is a simple and elegant voting method remedying the shortcomings identified for the creation of a true European transnational constituency.

AFCO / Elections / European Parliament / European parties / Political Parties

Running the numbers

This report provides reliable figures and insightful visualisations in order to grasp the full impact of the reform of European parties’ public funding regime.

AFCO / European Parliament / European parties / European Union / Political Parties / Transparency

The λogos project

The λogos project challenges the implementation of national parties’ requirement to display the logo of their European party on their website.

AFCO / European parties / Political Parties / Quick review

Visualising donations and contributions

This quick review by European Democracy Consulting presents visualisations for European parties’ donations and contributions.

AFCO / European Parliament / European parties / European Union / Political Parties / Transparency

Reforming European parties – seminal report

This report on the reform of European parties covers six pillars of the regulation of European parties: registration, structure and operations, financing, campaigning, visibility and transparency, and sanctions.

AFCO / European Parliament / European parties / European Union / Political Parties

EDC responds to Ombudsman decision on Authority for European Parties

European Democracy Consulting provides its response and recommendations following the publication of the European Ombudsman decision on the Authority for European parties.

AFCO / European Parliament / European parties / European Union / Institutions / Political Parties

A smarter funding system for European parties

This Policy Brief published by the ÖGFE proposes concrete reform proposals for the funding system of European political parties.

European Union / Institutions / Politics

Geographical Representation in EU Leadership Observatory 2021

The Geographical Representation in EU Leadership Observatory analyses past and present trends of regional representation in the EU’s leadership.

European parties / European Union / Institutions

EDC comments Authority for European Parties’ reply to Ombudsman inquiry

European Democracy Consulting provides its comments on the APPF’s reply in the framework of the European Ombudsman inquiry into its transparency practices.

AFCO / European Parliament / European parties / European Union / Institutions / Political Parties

Making our election truly European

Instead of the mere band-aid of transnational lists, let us reform EU parties and engage on a bold reform to engage citizens and make our election truly European.

European Union / Institutions / Political Parties

EU Ombudsman opens inquiry into Authority for European parties

Following a complaint by European Democracy Consulting, the European Ombudsman has announced the opening of an inquiry into the handling, by the European parties watchdog, of its transparency obligations.

European Union / Institutions / Political Parties

EDC takes Authority for European parties to European Ombudsman

A report highlights the failures of the European party watchdog to implement its transparency requirements under EU law. European Democracy Consulting lodged a complaint to the European Ombudsman on 26 June.

Elections / European Union / Institutions / Politics / Quick review

Living together, voting together

It’s not just a feeling: elections in Europe do take place all the time. European Democracy Consulting provides unique data and visualisations to understand the scope of this constant electioneering. Here is why we should care.

European Union / Institutions / Political Parties

Failure of the APPF to abide by its transparency requirements

The Authority for European Political Parties and European Political Foundations appears not to comply with its transparency obligations stemming from Article 32 of Regulation 1141/2014 on the statute and funding of European political parties and European political foundations. This review highlights the accomplishments and shortcomings of the APPF regarding its transparency requirements. We hope it proves useful to you in enacting the necessary measures to meet the provisions of Regulation 1141/2014.

Elections / European Union / Institutions / Politics

European elections, as you’ve never seen them before

The European election, last May, was undoubtedly the major political element of 2019. Campaigns were fierce, the outcome closely observed, and its consequences ran until the end of the year with the arrival of the new Commission. Yet, one group of stakeholders was scarcely mentioned: European political parties.

European Union / Institutions / Politics / Quick review

East-West Divide in EU leadership

Fifteen years after the 2004 “big bang” of EU enlargement, is there an East-West divide in the EU’s leadership? This quick review reveals a dramatic absence of entire regions which must be addressed.

Elections / European Union / Institutions / Political Parties / Politics

Adopting the improved Bundestag system

Sixty years in, the EU still does not have a common election. More than ever, it is essential for our democracy and the equality of European citizens that we adopt a common voting system. The Bundestag gives us a fascinating way forward.
[Published by EuropeanConstitution.eu]

Elections / Political Parties / Politics

Not transnational lists, transnational parties

Transnational lists have emerged as a regular talking point. Yet, what may seem like a no-nonsense way to promote a “more European” Europe is, upon closer examination, unlikely to make our elections and politics more integrated, and completely foreign to the workings of federal systems. The ills it seeks to remedy are real, but the solution lies elsewhere.
[Published by EuropeanConstitution.eu]

Elections / European Union / Institutions / Political Parties / Politics

European democracy is achieved through transnational parties, not transnational lists

‘Transnational lists’ in European elections would mean creating a Europe-wide constituency to give citizens a chance to vote for common candidates, in addition to national ones. It is the most oft-discussed idea for making European elections ‘more European’. However, we should instead focus on developing pan-European political parties.
[Published by The New Federalist]

Elections / European Union / Institutions / Politics

Let the European Parliament choose the European Commission

Nationalist parties all across the EU have long been feeding off the Union’s lack of democracy and are bound to jump on the way the new leaders of EU institutions are elected to reinforce their message.
[Published by EURACTIV.com]

European Union / Institutions / Politics

The importance of building a European democracy

With over 400mn people eligible to vote, the recent European parliamentary election was the second-largest democratic exercise in the world. Yet, beyond the vote itself, how democratic really is the EU?
[Published by Friends of Europe]

European Union / Institutions / Politics

Europe’s democratic challenge: in search of government

Europe is about democracy. We cherish democracy in our national institutions by ensuring a healthy separation of powers, by fighting for free and fair elections, and by combining the rule of the majority with the protection of the minority. Let’s do the same at the European level.
[Published by EURACTIV.com with Andrew Duff]