Recital (46)

According to Article 8(1) TEU, the Union is to develop a special relationship with neighbouring countries, aiming to establish an area of prosperity and good neighbourliness, founded on the values of the Union and characterised by close and peaceful relations based on cooperation. European political parties and European political foundations play an important role in fostering that goal in their political work and relationships with parties in third countries. The statutes of a European political party or a European political foundation could allow for membership of political parties and organisations from third countries. This should however be limited to countries that have a closer and special relationship with the Union, namely members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), former Member States, candidate countries, countries entitled to use the euro as their official currency on the basis of a monetary agreement with the Union, partner countries that have a stabilisation and association agreement with the Union as well as European countries with whom the Union has concluded Association Agreements establishing a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area. Such parties or organisations could be granted the possibility of a more formalised and structured cooperation with European political parties and European political foundations through associated membership. Associated member parties and organisations should be able to play an active role, contributing to and participating in the inner life of a European political party and foundation, for example through the right of initiative or membership of governing bodies and attending and participating in meetings and other activities, including meetings of the governing bodies and performing joint outreach activities and events. Associated member organisations should also have the right to participate in research projects. In order to counter the risk of foreign interference, European political parties and European political foundations allowing for associated membership should ensure that their statutes provide adequate safeguards against foreign interference. In particular, European political parties allowing for associated membership should ensure that all votes gather the support of a majority of members which have their seat in the Union or who are citizens of the Union in order to pass. Votes cast by associated member parties should not be decisive towards a majority. Associated members parties should also not be able to individually or collectively impose a course of action against, or block, a majority of the voting of citizens of the Union. Representatives of associated member parties should not receive executive power by delegation in the governing bodies.