The importance of transparency in the funding of political parties and electoral campaigns is also stressed in Council of Europe Committee of Ministers Rec(2003)4 and other international standards, as well as in previous opinions of the Venice Commission. According to the Guidelines, “the regulation of political party funding is essential to guarantee parties independence from undue influence created by donors and to ensure the opportunity for all parties to compete in accordance with the principle of equal opportunity and to provide for transparency in political finance.” “Transparency in party and campaign finance (…) is important to protect the rights of voters as well as prevent corruption. Transparency is also important because the public has the right to receive relevant information and to be informed.