The Alliance for Lobbying Transparency and Ethics Regulation (ALTER-EU) is a coalition of over 160 civil society groups, trade unions, academics and public affairs firms concerned with the increasing influence exerted by corporate lobbyists on the political agenda in Europe, the resulting loss of democracy in EU decision-making and the postponement, weakening, or blockage even, of urgently needed progress on social, environmental and consumer-protection reforms.

Ten steps towards ending corporate lobbying privileges and secrecy

Publication date: 
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Teaser: 
ALTER-EU's ten priority reform proposals towards ending corporate lobbying privileges and secrecy that the Commission and Parliament should take up in the coming years.

ALTER-EU is seeking: a coalition-building and outreach coordinator

Mon, 2010-08-30 16:06 — erik-admin

Coalition-building and outreach coordinator

Full-time position in the Brussels office, with regular travel in Europe
Start date: 15 October 2010 (or later) Read more »

Bursting the Brussels Bubble

Mon, 2010-08-30 16:30 — erik-admin

Written by some of the leading experts on lobbying transparency in Europe, Bursting the Brussels Bubble provides an eye-opening insight into decision-making within the European Union – and offers a valuable guide to fighting for greater transparency and accountability.

Complaint to the Ombudsman on Expert Groups dominated by corporate interests

Publication date: 
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Teaser: 
ALTER-EU filed a complaint about the European Commission’s refusal to act against the fact that a number of its expert groups are dominated by business interests alleging that this stance violates the Commission's codes of counduct on consulation standards and the use of expertise.
Download full document as pdf: 
application/pdf iconComplaint.EGs_.28.07.10.pdf
Download full document as pdf: 
application/pdf iconAppendix.pdf

Transparency still out of sight on lobby register’s second anniversary

Publication date: 
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Press release issued by: 
The Alliance for Lobbying Transparency and Ethics Regulation (ALTER-EU)
On the second anniversary of the European Commission lobby register, many lobby groups based in Brussels still refuse to sign up. The Alliance for Lobbying Transparency and Ethics Regulation in the EU (ALTER-EU) released a press release urging for more transparency.

Sixty per cent of EU lobbying consultancies not signed up to European Commission’s lobby transparency register

Publication date: 
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Press release issued by: 
The Alliance for Lobbying Transparency and Ethics Regulation (ALTER-EU)
Survey highlights failure of voluntary approach; EU officials and MEPs urged not to meet with unregistered lobbyists.

Preventing conflicts of interest of EU Commissioners (review of the code of conduct for Commissioners)

Publication date: 
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Teaser: 
ALTER-EU asks Barroso to address conflicts of interest in revision code of conduct for EU Commissioners
Download full document as pdf: 
application/pdf iconPreventing_Conflicts_of_Interest_of_EU_Commissioners.pdf

European Commission urged to break stranglehold of financial sector

Publication date: 
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Press release issued by: 
The Alliance for Lobbying Transparency and Ethics Regulation (ALTER-EU)
The vast majority of financial ‘experts’ advising the European Commission represent the banks and investors responsible for the global economic crisis, according to a new report published today by the Alliance for Lobbying Transparency and Ethics Regulation (ALTER EU).

Commission review of lobby register brings minor improvements but fails to fix fundamental flaws

Publication date: 
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Press release issued by: 
The Alliance for Lobbying Transparency and Ethics Regulation (ALTER-EU)
The changes to the lobby register announced by Commission will fix some of the weaknesses in the initial design of the register, but fundamental flaws remain. This means that EU citizens are largely left in the dark about the activities of the more than 15,000 Brussels lobbyists, according to the Alliance for Lobbying Transparency and Ethics Regulation.

ALTER-EU website gets update

Wed, 2010-03-03 18:13 — erik-admin

We are currently moving the ALTER-EU website to a completely redesigned backend (Drupal 6) in order to overcome technical problems with the previous incarnation of this site. Initially we will focus at ensuring that all key ALTER-EU materials are available on line again. The looks of the site will be improved at a later stage.

As a result of the transition, some URLs for ALTER-EU documents may slightly change. Please use the menu structure of the site to find the documents you're looking for.  If you can't find something or if you have feedback on the new site (most welcomed!), please notify us via the Contact form.