Crunch time for EU lobbying transparency

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    On 21 March, European Commission President Barroso and Vice President Kallas are expected to present the second Commission Communication on the European Transparency Initiative (ETI).

    In the Communication, the Commission will lay out steps to increase transparency in EU decision-making, including plans for a register and code of conduct for lobbyists. But will these plans really give EU citizens more insight into who is influencing EU policy-making?


  • 20 Março 2007

    Since 2005, the Alliance for Lobbying Transparency and Ethics Regulation in the EU (ALTER-EU) is campaigning for more transparency in EU policy-making. This paper presents ALTER-EU’s most important criteria for assessing the lobbying transparency chapter of the ETI Communication.

    In summary, ALTER-EU:

    is concerned that, in an enlarged and increasingly powerful EU, the European Commission is only making limited progress towards lobbying transparency;

    criticises the fact that specific, problematic issues of lobby influence on EU policy, such as ‘revolving doors’ and privileged access, are not being dealt with by the Commission;

    welcomes the fact that, in future, all lobbyists (public interest as well as commercial) will have to disclose financial information (on who is paying them to influence EU decision-making);

    is concerned that the Commission is opting for a voluntary register. It is unlikely that all lobbyists will participate and supply accurate information.

    Erik Wesselius (Corporate Europe Observatory) comments: “In an enlarged and increasingly powerful EU, the European Commission has a responsibility to make EU decision-making more transparent, including its interactions with lobbyists. The European Transparency Initiative is too limited in scope – it does not give EU citizens the opportunity to scrutinise all aspects of lobbying. The requirement for lobbyists to disclose financial information is a step forward. But by proposing only a voluntary system, the Commission is undermining its stated intention: a voluntary register allows those who have something to hide to stay in the shade.”