The European political party, or formally political party at European level, is a type of political party organization in the European Union, eligible to receive funding from the Union. Article 191 of the Treaty of Maastricht says 'Political parties at European level are important as a factor for integration within the Union. They contribute to forming a European awareness and to expressing the political will of the citizens of the Union.' [1] (http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/en/treaties/selected/livre247.html) This is also codified in the draft Treaty establishing a constitution for Europe which states in Article 45(4) that 'Political parties at European level contribute to forming European political awareness and to expressing the will of Union citizens.' [2] (http://europa.eu.int/futurum/constitution/part1/title6/index_en.htm)
Stemming from this provision, Regulation (EC) No 2004/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 November2003 lays out the regulations governing 'political parties at European level' and the rules regarding their funding. [3] (http://europa.eu.int/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexapi!prod!CELEXnumdoc&lg=EN&numdoc=32003R2004&model=guichett)
Several European political parties have been created, based on Europe-wide party alliances. Within the European Parliament these parties often express themselves as European Parliament party groups which may be alliances of more than one European political parties, or possibly alliances between parties and nominally independents.
The Treaty as amended at Maastricht recognises the role of politicalparties in Article 191, which states: "politicalparties at European level are important as a factor for integration within the Union.
Democracy: the programme and activities of a Europeanpoliticalparty must respect the fundamental principles of democracy, respect for fundamental rights and the rule of law established by the Treaty on European Union.
Participation in Europeanpolitical debate: a Europeanpoliticalparty must have established itself as a politicalgroup within the EuropeanParliament or intend to establish one or to participate in an existing group.
The Labour Party was founded in 1912 in Clonmel by James Connolly, James Larkin and William O'Brien as the political wing of the Irish Trade Union Congress.
The merged party's performance in the 1999 Local Election and 1999 EuropeanElection was mixed, with very positive results in the capital where it emerged as the second-largest grouping in Dublin, and PartyPresident Proinsias De Rossa was elected to the EuropeanParliament.
Labour is a member party of the Party of EuropeanSocialists, with Ruairi Quinn as its Vice President and Treasurer.
Feeds |
Contact