PLANS TO tighten up regulations governing more than 5,000 lobbyists who daily attempt to influence EU policy were approved by the European Parliament yesterday, and could be in place as soon as next month.
The move follows complaints from MEPs that there are up to six lobbyists for each MEP and allegations that some lobbyists were offering MEPs money to ask questions and table amendments to EU legislation.
Proposals for a joint “transparency register” to replace parliament and European Commission registers have been debated since 1996, but it was only since a number of scandals involving payments and gifts to MEPs in the recent past that the issue gained popular support.
Austrian MEP Hans-Peter Martin claimed to have compiled a list of “offers” from lobbyists valued at up to €10,000 per week. Also widely reported were allegations MEPs have been offered travel to exotic locations as well as being wined and dined and in some cases given cash.
The revelations were followed by the Council of Ministers – which represent member states – reversing an earlier position and agreeing to commission proposals for the new transparency register.
Yesterday the proposals for the new register were approved by the parliament with a suggestion put forward that MEPs who present reports should append a list of all lobbyists who were consulted on the drafting of their reports.
While it is not mandatory for lobby firms to sign up to the new register, lobbyists who do not will not be accredited and not be allowed access to EU institutions.
More than 1,700 organisations are accredited as interest groups in the parliament and about 3,900 in the commission.
The commission’s “register of interest representatives” and the parliament’s “list of lobbyists” will now be unified under the new transparency register. Parliament president Jerzy Buzek told MEPs he is drafting a tighter code for lobbyists to reflect their concern. The name change to “transparency” from “lobby” register is designed to make it easier for non-commercial organisations such as think tanks, churches, local authorities and political parties to sign up.
Representing the Council of Ministers, Hungarian Minister Eniko Gyori told MEPs the council’s contribution would be limited because it is “less exposed” to lobby activities than the commission or the parliament.
British Liberal Democrat Andrew Duff welcomed the “tentative” steps from the council while Maros Sefcovic, speaking on behalf of the commission, said a common register would be a “major step forward”.