Here comes again the EU Industry Day, a two-day event where business representatives are invited to mingle with EU high level officials to discuss Juncker’s strategic approach to industrial policy.

Extending the “no registration, no meeting” rule from the Commission elite to lower-level officials would at once improve lobby transparency and protect civil servants. But the Commission has been actively avoiding to address this.

The Commission wants to redefine lobbying during the upcoming revision of the EU lobby transparency register so that it only relates to direct contacts with EU decision-makers. But such a change of approach would allow certain lobbyists to operate under the radar, away from public scrutiny.

Shedding light on Italy’s official position on the EU Transparency Register seems like an impossible task

The Council of the European Union is one of the most important institutions involved in the EU’s decision-making process. But despite a ruling by the highest EU court and increased demands from civil society, they refuse to sign up to the transparency register.