Commission Decision (EU) 2026/2043 of 8 September 2026 on appointing two members of the committee of independent eminent persons established by Article 16 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 2025/2445 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the statute and funding of European political parties and European political foundations

Official Journal EN of the European Union L series 2026/2043 11.9.2026 COMMISSION DECISION(EU) 2026/2043 of 8 September 2026 on appointing two members of the committee of independent eminent persons established by Article 16 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 2025/2445 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the statute and funding of European political parties and European political foundations THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, Having regard to 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(1), and in particular Article 16(1) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2025/2445 provides the conditions for registration of European political parties and European political foundations. In particular, the European political parties and European political foundations and their member parties and organisation must observe, in particular in their programme and activities, the values on which the Union is founded, set out in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union, and must provide a standard formal declaration to that effect.

(2) The European Parliament, the Council or the Commission may submit a request with the Authority for European political parties and European political foundations (‘the Authority’) to verify whether a specific European political party or European political foundation complies with these conditions.

(3) Before adopting a decision on whether to de-register a party or foundation for a manifest and serious breach of such conditions, the Authority has to consult a committee of independent eminent persons, which is to deliver an opinion within two months.

(4) Furthermore, at the request of the Authority, the committee of independent eminent persons has to provide an opinion on whether a European political party or a European political foundation has deliberately influenced or attempted to influence the outcome of elections to the European Parliament by taking advantage of an infringement of the applicable rules on the protection of personal data.

(5) For these purposes, Article 16 of the Regulation establishes a committee of independent eminent persons consisting of six members, with the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission each appointing two members.

(6) The secretariat of the committee acting under its sole authority and provided by the European Parliament, should provide support to the committee in fulfilling its tasks. The funding of the committee is to be provided by the European Parliament.

(7) It is necessary that the Commission appoints two members, in order to renew the members of the committee pursuant to Article 16(1) third subparagraph of the Regulation.

(8) The proposed members were selected on the basis of their personal and professional qualities and are neither members of the European Parliament, the Council or the Commission, nor hold any electoral mandate, are not officials or other servants of the European Union or current or former employees of a European political party or a European political foundation. They meet therefore the eligibility conditions provided in Article 16 (1) first subparagraph of the Regulation,

(1) OJ L, 2025/2445, 8.12.2025, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2025/2445/oj.

ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2026/2043/oj 1/3EN OJ L, 11.9.2026

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

1. The following persons are appointed as members of the Committee of independent eminent persons for the duration

of the term of office of the Committee:

(a) Mr Alexander ITALIANER

(b) Ms Martine REICHERTS

2. The appointment is subject to the signing, by each of the designated members, of the declaration of independence and the absence of conflict of interests that is provided in the Annex to the present Decision.

Article 2 This Decision shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Done at Brussels, 8 September 2026.

For the Commission The President Ursula VON DER LEYEN 2/3 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2026/2043/ojEN OJ L, 11.9.2026 ANNEX DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE AND ABSENCE OF CONFLICT OF INTERESTS I, the undersigned, .................................................................................................., declare that I have taken note of Article 16(1) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 2025/2445 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the statute and funding of European political parties and European political foundations and will exercise my duties as member of the committee of independent eminent persons in full independence and in full compliance with the rules of that Regulation. I will neither seek nor take instructions from any institution or government, or from any other body, office or agency. I will refrain from any act which is incompatible with the nature of my duties. I declare, to the best of my knowledge, that I am not in a situation of conflict of interests. A conflict of interests exists where the impartial and objective exercise of my duties as member of the committee of independent eminent persons are compromised, or may appear to be compromised, for reasons involving family, personal life, political, national, philosophical or religious affinity, economic interest or any other shared interest with a potential recipient. In particular, I declare that I am not a member of the European Parliament, the Council or the Commission. I do not hold any electoral mandate. I am not an official or other servant of the European Union. I am not, and never have been, an employee of a European political party or of a European political foundation.

Done at …, [DATE + SIGNATURE of the designated member of the committee of independent eminent persons]

ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2026/2043/oj 3/3