Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/143 of 5 January 2026 on the request for registration, pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2019/788 of the European Parliament and of the Council, of the European citizens’ initiative entitled Ethics, Transparency and Integrity for European Political Parties (notified under document C(2026) 11)

Official Journal EN of the European Union L series 2026/143 22.1.2026 COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION(EU) 2026/143 of 5 January 2026 on the request for registration, pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2019/788 of the European Parliament and of the Council, of the European citizens’ initiative entitled ‘Ethics, Transparency and Integrity for European Political Parties’ (notified under document C(2026) 11) (Only the Italian text is authentic) THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Having regard to Regulation (EU) 2019/788 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2019 on the European citizens’ initiative(1), and in particular Article 6(3) thereof, Whereas: (1) A request for registration of a European citizens’ initiative entitled ‘Ethics, Transparency and Integrity for European Political Parties’ was submitted to the Commission on 5 December 2025. (2) That request follows the request for registration of a European citizens’ initiative entitled ‘Ethics and Transparency for Responsible European Governance’, which was submitted to the Commission on 7 November 2025. (3) By letter of 3 December 2025 (C(2025) 8400 final), pursuant to Article 6(4) of Regulation (EU) 2019/788, the Commission informed the group of organisers that as regards the request for registration submitted on 7 November 2025, the requirements for registration set out in Article 6(3), first subparagraph, points (a), (d) and (e), of that Regulation were fulfilled and that Article 6(3), first subparagraph, point (b), thereof was not applicable. However, the Commission also explained that the initiative did not fulfil the requirement set out in Article 6(3), first subparagraph, point (c), of Regulation (EU) 2019/788. In particular, the Commission has no power to submit a proposal for a legal act of the Union to introduce standards for the selection of candidates for the European Parliament. (4) The Commission therefore informed the organisers pursuant to Article 6(4), first subparagraph, of Regulation (EU) 2019/788 that they could either amend the initiative to take into account the Commission’s assessment, or maintain, or withdraw, the initial initiative in accordance with Article 6(4), second subparagraph, of Regulation (EU) 2019/788. (5) On 5 December 2025, the group of organisers submitted an amended initiative. (6) The aim of the amended initiative as expressed by the organisers is ‘to devise a European model of ethical governance based on transparency, integrity and shared responsibility’. To this end, the organisers invite the Commission ‘to propose a legislative act amending and tightening up Regulation (EU) No 1141/2014 on European political parties and European political foundations and introducing stricter requirements with respect to’: ‘integrity and preventing conflicts of interest’; ‘internal transparency and transparency of decision-making processes’; ‘ethical responsibility of decision-making bodies’; ‘publication of the selection criteria and internal procedures used when parties and foundations select representatives’; ‘mechanisms for conducting regular checks on unethical conduct’; ‘making the receipt of European public funding conditional on verifiable compliance with these standards’. An annex to the amended initiative provides further details on its background, its subject matter and its objectives. (1) OJ L 130, 17.5.2019, p. 55, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2019/788/oj. ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2026/143/oj 1/2EN OJ L, 22.1.2026 (7) The Commission considers that it could adopt a proposal to amend Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council, of 22 October 2014, on the statute and funding of European political parties and European political foundations(2), in order to introduce more stringent requirements concerning the governance of European political parties. (8) For that reason, the Commission considers that none of the parts of the initiative manifestly falls outside the framework of the Commission’s powers to submit a proposal for a legal act of the Union for the purpose of implementing the Treaties. (9) That conclusion does not affect the assessment of whether the concrete substantive conditions required for the Commission to act, including compliance with the principles of proportionality and subsidiarity and compatibility with fundamental rights, would be met in this case. (10) The group of organisers has provided appropriate evidence that it fulfils the requirements laid down in Article 5(1) and (2) of Regulation (EU) 2019/788 and has designated the contact persons in accordance with Article 5(3), first subparagraph, of that Regulation. (11) The initiative is not manifestly abusive, frivolous or vexatious, nor is it manifestly contrary to the values of the Union as set out in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union or to the rights enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. (12) The initiative entitled ‘Ethics, Transparency and Integrity for European Political Parties’ should therefore be registered. (13) The conclusion that the conditions for registration under Article 6(3) of Regulation (EU) 2019/788 are fulfilled does not imply that the Commission in any way confirms the factual correctness of the content of the initiative, which is the sole responsibility of the group of organisers of the initiative. The content of the initiative only expresses the views of the group of organisers, and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the Commission, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Article 1 The European citizens’ initiative entitled ‘Ethics, Transparency and Integrity for European Political Parties’ shall be registered. Article 2 This Decision is addressed to the group of organisers of the citizens’ initiative entitled ‘Ethics, Transparency and Integrity for European Political Parties’, represented by Gian Elio DE MARCO and Jean Pierre SAULNIER acting as contact persons. Done at Brussels, 5 January 2026. For the Commission Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ Member of the Commission (2) Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2025/2445 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 November 2025 on the statute and funding of European political parties and European political foundations repeals Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014; date of effect: 28 December 2025. 2/2 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2026/143/oj