Van Brempt and Van Lancker (PSE), in writing. – (NL) As Flemish Socialists, we have voted against the Council's compromise concerning the statute for European political parties as this was presented before the EP, because it does not sufficiently guarantee the independence of European political parties.

The compromise contains a financial arrangement which means that fully-fledged European parties can be co-financed by donations from 2004 onwards. The compromise that was reached, as a result of which a donor – being a natural or legal entity – can donate up to EUR 12 000 per annum to a European party, with a traceability ceiling of EUR 500, is unacceptable to us.

We continue to work for a ban on company donations and a ceiling on private donations of EUR 2 000 per annum, whereby donors are required to make themselves known if they contribute EUR 125 or more.