We are happy to announce that we have moved our repositories away from @github.com to Codeberg, a German non-profit. This is in line with our values, as we strive to rely on European tech. 🇪🇺
European Democracy Consulting Stiftung
@edcstiftung.eu
EDCS is a non-profit foundation dedicated to strengthening European representative democracy. 🇪🇺 edcstiftung.eu
What's new for #europeanparties? Three things today! 1/ Many outlets reported on @progressiefned.bsky.social members' decision to join the @pes.eu over the @europeangreens.eu (65% in favour), and pointed out the consequences on the PES' European public funding (e.g. @politico.eu article below). 1/4
What's new for #europeanparties? 2/ @politico.eu reports that the @eppofficial.bsky.social will be opening its individual membership for €20. Until now, individual membership was reserved for members of national member parties. Individual membership currently does not grant voting rights,... 1/3
For years, the @edcstiftung.eu has pushed EU institutions to survey citizens' "knowledge and recall" of #europeanparties -- to no avail thus far. This is not that, but 20% of French citizens not knowing who @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu is after 7 years... 1/2 www.politico.eu/article/ursu...
Ursula von der Who? Polling shows many EU citizens don’t know who Commission president is
Some 45% of respondents to a POLITICO poll in Germany said von der Leyen was doing a bad job.
politico.eu
As local and national elections have a growing impact on European politics, citizens need information on their common #europeanparties. This is what the EPFO delivers, and we need your support to move forward! 💪🇪🇺 #democracy #eudemocracy 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...
betterplace.org
What's new for #europeanparties? A new Director for the APPF! As of today, Philippe Musquar replaces Pascal Schonard as the head of the Authority for European political parties and European political foundations. Here is wishing him all the best for this great adventure. 1/8
Back at work but most people are still away and you don't know how to help make a difference? Help us with a donation or by spreading the word! In the fight for democracy, every effort counts. 🇪🇺 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...
betterplace.org
What's new for #europeanparties? In view of recent events, we decided on an early release for the latest edition of our Party Time 🎉 newsletter, initially planned for late August. On the menu, an early guide of the APPF's Committee of Independent Eminent Persons! 👇 edcstiftung.eu/post/committ...
edcstiftung.eu
Louis Drounau@louisdrounau.eudemocracy.eu · 2mo agoWhat's new for #europeanparties? In a tragic twist, the months-late appointment of the Commission's two experts on the APPF's Committee of Independent Eminent Persons coincided with the passing of one of Parliament's experts, Spanish think tank leader Pablo Vázquez. 1/3
@politico.eu echoes criticism by the @ombudsman.europa.eu of the EU’s access-to-documents rules and shortcomings. 👉 On 10 March, we placed a request for document, due within 15 working days, with possibility of extension to another 15 working days. It has now been 98 working days. #europeanparties
And finally, here is @eudemocracy.eu's latest post, expanding on last week's thread regarding the APPF's use of social media over the past four years. TL:DR 👉 failing to increase citizens' knowledge of #europeanparties is likely to strengthen the far-right. edcstiftung.eu/post/appf-so...
EDCS | APPF social media activity: on the way out?
The Authority for European political parties and foundations is communicating less and less on social media; here is why we should care.
edcstiftung.eu
What's new for #europeanparties? A dedicated newsletter! @eudemocracy.eu is launching Party time 🎉, the first newsletter focusing on European parties. Subscribe today! 🇪🇺👇 edcstiftung.eu/newsletter
EDCS | Subscribe to Party time
Party time is the European Democracy Consulting Stiftung's newsletter on European political parties. Subscribe to receive our newsletter.
edcstiftung.eu
🤔 Anyone else under the impression that the #APPF's twitter account was the project of an intern that lost steam once the intern left? 👇 Below the APPF's 123 posts (incl. quote posts & reposts) between Sept. 2022 and July 2026. 1/11
What's new for #europeanparties? According to @politico.eu, Philippe Musquar is to be the new Director of the Authority for European parties & foundations (#APPF) as of Sept. Something to look forward to! And congratulation to Pascal Schonard for his tenure and the work and progress made therein.
Indeed, the EPFO has a lot more in store! If you care about European democracy, support us and share our fundraising page on BetterPlace.org. 👇🇪🇺 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...
betterplace.org
Louis Drounau@louisdrounau.eudemocracy.eu · 3mo agoNormally, I would have posted a link to @eudemocracy.eu's amazing European Party Funding Observatory -- but, in this case, we need funding to develop our database and display of individual donations 👉 support us! www.betterplace.org/en/projects/...
🎉 The European Parliament decided to ask the Authority for European political parties and European political foundations (APPF) to open an investigation on whether ESN Party properly ensured that its member parties complied with EU values. As the first such vote, this is an important step for.. 1/5
![🎉 The European Parliament decided to ask the Authority for European political parties and European political foundations (APPF) to open an investigation on whether ESN Party properly ensured that its member parties complied with EU values. As the first such vote, this is an important step for the enforceability of this verification process and a confirmation that facts found by the APPF can legitimately give rise to a formal investigation.
❔ *What's next?* The APPF will now "inform [ESN] without undue delay, invite it to submit its observations and give it the opportunity to introduce measures to remedy the situation within one month", after which the APPF will "submit the observations made by [ESN] and, where applicable, the [corrective measures taken] to the committee of independent eminent persons" for its opinion to be given within two months. Then the APPF will decide whether to de-register ESN, a decision the Parliament and Council can veto.
⚠️ The European Commission still hasn't appointed its members on the committee of independent eminent persons.
❔ Not that this changes anything, but it remains to be seen whether the Commission and/or Council will likewise ask the APPF to open the verification procedure, or whether their decision-making process will stop.
👉 For more details: https://edcstiftung.eu/post/compliance-eu-values-esn](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:kcz2hjvdkkjs64n6y57uq35w/bafkreiaos2ped74t67u4t2dlznxgdnorg5j7osvs2kjhe2rl6pdb6pcapa)
What's new for #europeanparties? Not much. You'd think the opening of the first verification procedure against an EU party --framed as "ban the AfD" or "silencing opposition to immigration"-- would trigger strong reactions. Barely a press release by ESN Group, unavailable on their website. So quiet.
Very strong majority in favour of opening an investigation on ESN Party. An important precedent and interesting process to watch out for. Whatever the outcome, this is democracy giving itself the tools to defend its values. For more 👉 edcstiftung.eu/post/complia...
EDCS | Compliance with EU values: trial run with ESN?
The Europe of Sovereign Nations party risks being banned for failing to uphold EU values, a bombshell development in the usually quiet world of European parties.
edcstiftung.eu
Louis Drounau@louisdrounau.eudemocracy.eu · 3mo ago🎉 The European Parliament decided to ask the Authority for European political parties and European political foundations (APPF) to open an investigation on whether ESN Party properly ensured that its member parties complied with EU values. As the first such vote, this is an important step for.. 1/5
⚠️ Tomorrow, the European Parliament will vote on whether or not to request the Authority for European political parties and European political foundations (APPF) to open a verification procedure against Europe of Sovereign Nations (ESN). 1/9 Letter sent by APPF to the Council, via @politico.eu 👇
✅ The European Parliament should vote to allow the APPF to open a verification procedure. This vote is not a political decision to de-register ESN, but only a recognition that the facts gathered by the APPF are valid and justify opening a verification procedure.
Louis Drounau@louisdrounau.eudemocracy.eu · 4mo agoWhat's new for #europeanparties? The @europarl.europa.eu is set to vote on an investigation into far-right ESN. Approval would mean the APPF would convene an independent committee to provide an opinion. The process could lead to ESN's loss of European party status. www.euractiv.com/news/meps-se...
❌ As a heat wave crushes Europe, the EU is working hard to undo its green regulations addressing the climate emergency. ❔ Do you feel properly represented in these decisions? ✅ We need strong #europeanparties that citizens directly vote for! ⏩ It starts here ⏬ 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...
betterplace.org
The legal framework on #europeanparties and foundation now asks for data to be reported and published in open, machine-readable format. ⁉️ How does one do this? ✅ We just published guidance to help implement this! #transparency #opendata edcstiftung.eu/post/machine...
EDCS | Machine-readable data 101: guidance on European parties and foundations
Data on European parties and foundations must now be published in open, machine-readable format. EDCS offers a comprehensive guide to navigate its implementation.
edcstiftung.eu
Louis Drounau@louisdrounau.eudemocracy.eu · 5mo ago💪 First consequence of the new legal requirement to publish financial data on #europeanparties in open, machine-readable format: the @europarl.europa.eu is publishing CSV files with public funding amounts. 🇪🇺 Can definitely be improved upon, but this is a step in the right direction. 👍
The @europarl.europa.eu is discussing the EU law on #europeanparties. This is a chance to increase #transparency and thereby strengthen democracy. In the meantime, we've got you covered -- but we need your support 👇 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...
betterplace.org
Meanwhile, the @eppgroup.bsky.social continues to hoard the europeanparties.eu domain, even though it is a parliamentary group and not a European political party, for a supposed project that never materialises. Note: we are still interested! #europeanparties
europeanparties.eu
Louis Drounau@louisdrounau.eudemocracy.eu · 5mo agoIn the same vein, the EFA's foundation, the Coppieters Foundation, moved its website from ideasforeurope.eu to coppietersfoundation.eu. Subtle but welcome move.
⁉️ What are budgets good for when they consistently misrepresent real life? Year after year, the Patriots have submitted budgets to EU institutions that never remotely materialised, but just happened to match their maximum entitlement of European public funding. Read on 👇 #europeanparties 1/8
Great to see the media keeping an eye on the use of citizens' money. But, for this to properly work, we need more #transparency, as @louisdrounau.eudemocracy.eu argues in @maxgriera.bsky.social's piece for @politico.eu. Following yesterday's #AFCO vote, the ball is in the @ec.europa.eu's court!
POLITICO Europe@politico.eu · 5mo agoThe European Parliament says €1.5 million was misspent by political parties and foundations during the 2024 EU election campaign, according to documents seen by POLITICO.
Some clear problems have easy solutions, but it does not make them the right solution. #europeanparties have been struggling to raise private donations for two decades. But allowing wealthy donors to give more is not the right solution, and it comes with clear risks. 👉 edcstiftung.eu/post/donatio...
EDCS | Increasing the donations cap: a counterproductive reform
At best, the proposed cap increase for European parties and foundations will not diversify private income; at worst, it risks undue influence and threatens pluralism.
edcstiftung.eu
Louis Drounau@louisdrounau.eudemocracy.eu · 5mo agoTomorrow, @afco.europarl.europa.eu votes on its report on #europeanparties. A proposal to raise the cap on donations risks, under the guise of diversification, risks undue influence by wealthy donors. Read @marieccles.bsky.social's #euinfluence piece via @politico.eu www.politico.eu/newsletter/p...
And, for a more detailed analysis of the proposal, read @eudemocracy.eu's post 👇 edcstiftung.eu/post/donatio...
EDCS | Increasing the donations cap: a counterproductive reform
At best, the proposed cap increase for European parties and foundations will not diversify private income; at worst, it risks undue influence and threatens pluralism.
edcstiftung.eu
Some reform proposals seem innocuous, or even sensible. But, upon closer inspection, they reveal themselves as the wrong solution to the right problem. Cue the proposed increase in donation caps for #europeanparties and foundations 👇 edcstiftung.eu/post/donatio...
EDCS | Increasing the donations cap: a counterproductive reform
At best, the proposed cap increase for European parties and foundations will not diversify private income; at worst, it risks undue influence and threatens pluralism.
edcstiftung.eu
Louis Drounau@louisdrounau.eudemocracy.eu · 6mo ago⁉️⁉️ What do you do when a reform may be the one we deserve, but not the one we need? 🇪🇺 ⚠️ Groups are pushing to increase the donations cap for #europeanparties and foundations to €30-36,000 (€18,000 now) to "[ensure] greater flexibility and diversification" of sources. edcstiftung.eu/post/donatio...
Yet another example of the consequences of a lack of #transparency on the funding and spending of #europeanparties. The time for reform is now!
Louis Drounau@louisdrounau.eudemocracy.eu · 6mo agoCongratulations @simonvandorpe.bsky.social of @ftm.eu for this detailed piece on the expenses of #europeanparties. Beyond the case of the @eppofficial.bsky.social, the underlying issue is that of a lack of #transparency, as pointed out by @transparency-eu.bsky.social. www.ftm.eu/articles/eur...