European Democracy Consulting & Stiftung
@eudemocracy.eu
Democracy requires hard work and nurturing. We provide expertise to strengthen European democracy. 🇪🇺
European Democracy Consulting (eudemocracy.eu) is a consulting firm, the European Democracy Consulting Stiftung (edcstiftung.eu) a non-profit foundation.
European Democracy Consulting (eudemocracy.eu) is a consulting firm, the European Democracy Consulting Stiftung (edcstiftung.eu) a non-profit foundation.
In the meantime, let us celebrate the entry into force of Regulation 2025/2445 and the fact that #europeanparties remain on the agenda.
Welcome, Regulation, you'll be hearing from us soon!
9/9
Welcome, Regulation, you'll be hearing from us soon!
9/9
December 28, 2025 at 9:12 AM
In the meantime, let us celebrate the entry into force of Regulation 2025/2445 and the fact that #europeanparties remain on the agenda.
Welcome, Regulation, you'll be hearing from us soon!
9/9
Welcome, Regulation, you'll be hearing from us soon!
9/9
Another important start is a set of more technical changes to the Regulation on #europeanparties designed to improve the visibility of information around them.
Good news, we have drafted them already! 💪
8/9
edcstiftung.eu/files/EDCS_-...
Good news, we have drafted them already! 💪
8/9
edcstiftung.eu/files/EDCS_-...
December 28, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Another important start is a set of more technical changes to the Regulation on #europeanparties designed to improve the visibility of information around them.
Good news, we have drafted them already! 💪
8/9
edcstiftung.eu/files/EDCS_-...
Good news, we have drafted them already! 💪
8/9
edcstiftung.eu/files/EDCS_-...
These changes are a necessary precondition for a real & democratic political union and will involve citizens, instead of alienating them. Let's be clear: our Union will not be able to move forward without these changes. Since they take time, we should start right away and engage with citizens.
7/9
7/9
December 28, 2025 at 9:12 AM
These changes are a necessary precondition for a real & democratic political union and will involve citizens, instead of alienating them. Let's be clear: our Union will not be able to move forward without these changes. Since they take time, we should start right away and engage with citizens.
7/9
7/9
For a proper representative democracy, citizens should vote directly for #europeanparties, and EU parties should be able to choose their candidates and place them in political office. This means changing the Treaty on European Union and the EU electoral act (cf. @jflopezaguilar.bsky.social).
6/9
6/9
December 28, 2025 at 9:12 AM
For a proper representative democracy, citizens should vote directly for #europeanparties, and EU parties should be able to choose their candidates and place them in political office. This means changing the Treaty on European Union and the EU electoral act (cf. @jflopezaguilar.bsky.social).
6/9
6/9
Long story short, the main issue afflicting #europeanparties is not funding or gender or logos; it's that citizens don't know them and don't care about them, and this will require institutional changes, not merely regulatory ones.
5/9
5/9
December 28, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Long story short, the main issue afflicting #europeanparties is not funding or gender or logos; it's that citizens don't know them and don't care about them, and this will require institutional changes, not merely regulatory ones.
5/9
5/9
Unfortunately, the real impact of these provisions remains to be seen in practice and some, such as the decrease of #europeanparties' co-funding requirement, seem outright detrimental to the link between European parties and citizens.
4/9
4/9
December 28, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Unfortunately, the real impact of these provisions remains to be seen in practice and some, such as the decrease of #europeanparties' co-funding requirement, seem outright detrimental to the link between European parties and citizens.
4/9
4/9
The main ones are provisions to promote gender balance, avoid foreign interference, ease the funding of #europeanparties, require member parties to adhere to EU values, clarify joint activities, create self-generated resources, and improve the visibility of the link bt national and EU parties.
3/9
3/9
December 28, 2025 at 9:12 AM
The main ones are provisions to promote gender balance, avoid foreign interference, ease the funding of #europeanparties, require member parties to adhere to EU values, clarify joint activities, create self-generated resources, and improve the visibility of the link bt national and EU parties.
3/9
3/9
This new Regulation consolidates three texts: the current Regulation 1141/2014, along with its 2018 and 2019 amendments. In addition, it makes rather limited changes, not all of them positive, which were reviewed extensively here 👇 bsky.app/profile/loui...
2/9
2/9
🚨 Long thread alert!
Today, the EP (@europarl.europa.eu) is voting on the agreement reached with the Council on the new Regulation on the statute and funding of #europeanparties and foundations, under the Polish presidency back in June 2025.
So, what does this mean for our common parties?
1/24
Today, the EP (@europarl.europa.eu) is voting on the agreement reached with the Council on the new Regulation on the statute and funding of #europeanparties and foundations, under the Polish presidency back in June 2025.
So, what does this mean for our common parties?
1/24
December 28, 2025 at 9:12 AM
This new Regulation consolidates three texts: the current Regulation 1141/2014, along with its 2018 and 2019 amendments. In addition, it makes rather limited changes, not all of them positive, which were reviewed extensively here 👇 bsky.app/profile/loui...
2/9
2/9
Additionally, EL was fined under €1,900 for a joint activity with the Party Communist Français where it "neither achieved meaningful visibility, nor had any co-ownership of the event's substance or organisation".
3/3
3/3
December 9, 2025 at 8:08 AM
Additionally, EL was fined under €1,900 for a joint activity with the Party Communist Français where it "neither achieved meaningful visibility, nor had any co-ownership of the event's substance or organisation".
3/3
3/3
For accepting a donation, in the form of travel costs relief, from the Partido Socialista Unido de Venezuela (therefore an entity from a non-EU country), EL was fined over €3,000. EL was supposedly participated in election observation, but ostensibly displayed support of one of the contestants.
2/3
2/3
December 9, 2025 at 8:08 AM
For accepting a donation, in the form of travel costs relief, from the Partido Socialista Unido de Venezuela (therefore an entity from a non-EU country), EL was fined over €3,000. EL was supposedly participated in election observation, but ostensibly displayed support of one of the contestants.
2/3
2/3
[email protected]. And that's a wrap!
As always, our foundation works for free but we need funding to update our platform, so do support us if you can!
28/28
www.betterplace.org/en/projects/...
As always, our foundation works for free but we need funding to update our platform, so do support us if you can!
28/28
www.betterplace.org/en/projects/...
European Party Funding Observatory
European political parties represent us. But what do we know about them? How are they financed? Our observatory provides long-needed transparency on the funding and spending of European parties, inclu...
www.betterplace.org
November 18, 2025 at 11:26 AM
[email protected]. And that's a wrap!
As always, our foundation works for free but we need funding to update our platform, so do support us if you can!
28/28
www.betterplace.org/en/projects/...
As always, our foundation works for free but we need funding to update our platform, so do support us if you can!
28/28
www.betterplace.org/en/projects/...
..requirement from 10% of reimbursable expenditure to only 5%, thereby reducing #europeanparties' need to reach out to citizens (while more funding will come from taxpayers' money).
As for us, we will continue to update the EPFO as data is published by the @appf-eu.eudemocracy.eu and..
27/28
As for us, we will continue to update the EPFO as data is published by the @appf-eu.eudemocracy.eu and..
27/28
November 18, 2025 at 11:26 AM
..requirement from 10% of reimbursable expenditure to only 5%, thereby reducing #europeanparties' need to reach out to citizens (while more funding will come from taxpayers' money).
As for us, we will continue to update the EPFO as data is published by the @appf-eu.eudemocracy.eu and..
27/28
As for us, we will continue to update the EPFO as data is published by the @appf-eu.eudemocracy.eu and..
27/28
..to reach out to the general public for funding, as part of their general outreach, and the current legal framework does not enable this.
Unfortunately, the situation will only get worse as the recently adopted recast Regulation on #europeanparties decreases EU parties' private funding..
26/28
Unfortunately, the situation will only get worse as the recently adopted recast Regulation on #europeanparties decreases EU parties' private funding..
26/28
November 18, 2025 at 11:26 AM
..to reach out to the general public for funding, as part of their general outreach, and the current legal framework does not enable this.
Unfortunately, the situation will only get worse as the recently adopted recast Regulation on #europeanparties decreases EU parties' private funding..
26/28
Unfortunately, the situation will only get worse as the recently adopted recast Regulation on #europeanparties decreases EU parties' private funding..
26/28
Overall, private funding (especially donations, and especially from citizens) remains a very limited source of income for #europeanparties. While the private capture of parties by private interest should be prevented, parties should nevertheless be required and, if needed, incentivised..
25/28
25/28
November 18, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Overall, private funding (especially donations, and especially from citizens) remains a very limited source of income for #europeanparties. While the private capture of parties by private interest should be prevented, parties should nevertheless be required and, if needed, incentivised..
25/28
25/28
..such as AT&T, which gave €17k to ALDE and €15k to the ECR.
⚠️ For a searchable database of donations since 2004, support us! We are seeking funding to add this to our Observatory.
24/28
⚠️ For a searchable database of donations since 2004, support us! We are seeking funding to add this to our Observatory.
24/28
November 18, 2025 at 11:26 AM
..such as AT&T, which gave €17k to ALDE and €15k to the ECR.
⚠️ For a searchable database of donations since 2004, support us! We are seeking funding to add this to our Observatory.
24/28
⚠️ For a searchable database of donations since 2004, support us! We are seeking funding to add this to our Observatory.
24/28
Finally, looking at individual donations, we see that private companies are the most likely to make major donations -- at, or close to, the maximum allowed of €18k -- with ALDE capturing the bulk of these large donations.
While most fund liberal ALDE, some companies give across the isle..
23/28
While most fund liberal ALDE, some companies give across the isle..
23/28
November 18, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Finally, looking at individual donations, we see that private companies are the most likely to make major donations -- at, or close to, the maximum allowed of €18k -- with ALDE capturing the bulk of these large donations.
While most fund liberal ALDE, some companies give across the isle..
23/28
While most fund liberal ALDE, some companies give across the isle..
23/28
..just ahead of a large ECR-funded gathering of hundreds of conservatives in Cyprus in the run-up to the 2024 elections.
22/28
www.politico.eu/article/euro...
22/28
www.politico.eu/article/euro...
On holiday with Europe’s right-wingers
Hundreds of European conservatives gathered in Cyprus for a “cultural weekend” that mixed policy discussions, networking and time away from the bureaucratic machine.
www.politico.eu
November 18, 2025 at 11:26 AM
..just ahead of a large ECR-funded gathering of hundreds of conservatives in Cyprus in the run-up to the 2024 elections.
22/28
www.politico.eu/article/euro...
22/28
www.politico.eu/article/euro...
..the three timely donations of ELAM (a Cypriot party seeking to join the ECR), Ioannou Soteris (an ELAM MP), and Fivos Travel, a local travel agency, which (like ELAM) donated the maximum allowed of €18k.
All three donations were made to the ECR, at the same time in March,..
21/28
All three donations were made to the ECR, at the same time in March,..
21/28
November 18, 2025 at 11:26 AM
..the three timely donations of ELAM (a Cypriot party seeking to join the ECR), Ioannou Soteris (an ELAM MP), and Fivos Travel, a local travel agency, which (like ELAM) donated the maximum allowed of €18k.
All three donations were made to the ECR, at the same time in March,..
21/28
All three donations were made to the ECR, at the same time in March,..
21/28
As for geographical origin, unsurprisingly, Belgium remains the largest state of origin, as the EU seat of many donating multinationals.
Given the low amounts in question, the following order of is highly volatile. In 2024, Cyprus shot to 3rd place with 12% of donations thanks to..
20/28
Given the low amounts in question, the following order of is highly volatile. In 2024, Cyprus shot to 3rd place with 12% of donations thanks to..
20/28
November 18, 2025 at 11:26 AM
As for geographical origin, unsurprisingly, Belgium remains the largest state of origin, as the EU seat of many donating multinationals.
Given the low amounts in question, the following order of is highly volatile. In 2024, Cyprus shot to 3rd place with 12% of donations thanks to..
20/28
Given the low amounts in question, the following order of is highly volatile. In 2024, Cyprus shot to 3rd place with 12% of donations thanks to..
20/28
At the level of #europeanparties, the ECR and ALDE receive substantial funding from private companies, while the ECR and ECPP receive notable funding from individuals.
The ECPP alone receives a major part of its funding from interest organisations. Political foundations also provide funding.
19/28
The ECPP alone receives a major part of its funding from interest organisations. Political foundations also provide funding.
19/28
November 18, 2025 at 11:26 AM
At the level of #europeanparties, the ECR and ALDE receive substantial funding from private companies, while the ECR and ECPP receive notable funding from individuals.
The ECPP alone receives a major part of its funding from interest organisations. Political foundations also provide funding.
19/28
The ECPP alone receives a major part of its funding from interest organisations. Political foundations also provide funding.
19/28
Here is your reminder that all this private funding only accounts for 10-15% of #europeanparties' overall funding, with taxpayers footing the rest of the bill.
If nothing else, these figures confirm that, at the aggregate level, European parties are not captured by private interest.
18/28
If nothing else, these figures confirm that, at the aggregate level, European parties are not captured by private interest.
18/28
November 18, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Here is your reminder that all this private funding only accounts for 10-15% of #europeanparties' overall funding, with taxpayers footing the rest of the bill.
If nothing else, these figures confirm that, at the aggregate level, European parties are not captured by private interest.
18/28
If nothing else, these figures confirm that, at the aggregate level, European parties are not captured by private interest.
18/28