27.12.2007 Official Journal of the European Union L 343/5 REGULATION (EC) No 1524/2007 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 18 December 2007 amending Regulation (EC) No 2004/2003 on the regulations governing political parties at European level and the rules regarding their funding THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Commu- nity, and in particular Article 191 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty (}), Whereas: 1 O A ) Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 2004/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council (% provides that the European Parliament is to publish a report on the application of that Regulation, including — where appro- priate — possible amendments to be made to the funding systen. In its Resolution of 23 March 2006 on European political parties (%), the European Parliament considered that, in light of experience gained since its entry into force in 2004, Regulation (EC) No 2004/2003 should be improved as regards a number of points, all of them with the overriding objective of improving the funding situation of those political parties and the foundations affiliated with them. Provisions to provide financial support for political foundations at European level should be laid down, as political foundations at European level affiliated with the political parties at European level may through their activities support and underpin the objectives of the political parties at European level notably in terms of contributing to the debate on European public policy issues and on European integration, including by acting as catalysts for new ideas, analysis and policy options. This financial support should be provided in the section headed ‘Parliament’ of the general budget of the European Union, as is the case for political parties at European level. It remains an important objective to ensure the broadest possible participation of citizens in the democratic life of the European Union. In this context, political youth organisations can play a special role in fostering interest in, and concrete knowledge about, the political system of the European Union amongst young people, actively promoting their participation in democratic activities at European level. Opinion of the European Parliament of 29 November 2007 (not yet published in the Official Journal) and Council Decision of 17 December 2007. OJ L 297, 15.11.2003, p. 1. 0OJ C 292 E, 1.12.2006, p. 127. () 1. ) In order to improve the conditions for the funding of political parties at European level, while encouraging them to ensure adequate long-term financial planning, the minimum co-funding requirement should be adjusted. The same level of co-funding should be required for political foundations at European level. With a view to further enhancing and promoting the European nature of the elections to the European Parliament, it should be established clearly that appropria- tions received from the general budget of the European Union may also be used for the financing of campaigns conducted by the political parties at European level in the context of European Parliament elections, provided that this does not constitute a direct or indirect financing of national political parties or candidates. Political parties at European level act in the context of European Parliament elections in particular in order to highlight the European character of those elections. In accordance with Article 8 of the Act concerning the election of the members of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage, annexed to Council Decision 76/787[ECSC, EEC, Euratom (*), the funding of and limitation of election expenses at European Parliament elections is governed in each Member State by national provision. National law also applies for election expenses at national elections and referenda, HAVE ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Article 1 Amendments to Regulation (EC) No 2004/2003 Regulation (EC) No 2004/2003 is hereby amended as follows: the following points shall be added to Article 2: ‘4, “political foundation at European level” means an entity or network of entities which has legal personality in a Member State, is affiliated with a political party at European level, and which through its activities, within the aims and fundamental values pursued by the European Union, underpins and complements the objectives of the political party at European level by performing, in particular, the following tasks: — observing, analysing and contributing to the debate on European public policy issues and on the process of European integration, OJ L 278, 8.10.1976, p. 1. Decision as amended by Decision 2002/772[EC, Euratom (O] L 283, 21.10.2002, p. 1).