EU Survey on Lobby Register

Thank you for taking part in the European Commission’s consultation on a mandatory lobby register. Together we can make a strong demand for a tough transparency law to end uncontrolled lobbying and to advance EU democracy. 

Read the steps below and 

TAKE PART NOW!

Question 1

Do you think that ethical and transparent lobbying helps policy development?

Answer

Fully agree.

• In general this is true, but transparency in lobbying is more than just the lobby register.
• All EU decision-makers should be banned from meeting with unregistered lobbyists and should be obliged to publish online lists of all meetings held with lobbyists (existing rules should apply for all 30,000 employees, not only 300 senior officials)
• Meetings with big business lobbies should be limited in number and better balanced with interactions with other stakeholders including civil society organisations

Question 2

Which principles do you consider important for achieving a sound framework for relations with interest representatives?

Answer

Other.

• Meetings with big business lobbies should be limited in number and better balanced with interactions with other stakeholders including civil society organizations representing the public interest
• Tougher rules should not only apply for lobbyists but also the institutions. Strict codes of conduct in the European Parliament and Commission should prevent conflicts of interest (such as receiving gifts), lobby-related side jobs and the revolving door between the EU institutions and the lobby industry

Question 3

How transparent are the European institutions as public institutions?

Answer

No opinion.

• Much more can and must be done to boost transparency
• A mandatory lobby transparency register should require all EU lobbyists to register, disclosing accurate and up-to-date information and with adequate sanctioning capacities in cases of fraud
• All EU decision-makers should be banned from meeting with unregistered lobbyists and should oblige them to publish online lists of all meetings held with lobbyists (existing rules should apply for all 30,000 employees, not only 300 senior officials)
• “Trilogue” talks, by which 90% of EU law is decided in fast-track mode behind closed doors, must be made to the exception in decision-making, and must have greater transparency with a timely publication of documents
• Membership of expert and advisory groups of the Commission must have full transparency to prevent privileged access and corporate capture
• Open data must be implemented to ensure that EU documents and information are published online and made easily available to citizens

Question 4

Do you consider the Transparency Register a useful tool for regulating lobbying?

Answer

Somewhat useful.

• The existing lobby register is highly flawed and this consultation must lead to serious changes
• A lobby register should no longer be voluntary but mandatory and legally finding. It should require all EU lobbyists to register, disclosing accurate and up-to-date information and with adequate sanctioning capacities in cases of fraud 

Question 5

Is this definition of lobbying appropriate? “… Lobbying, interest representation and advocacy. It covers all activities carried out to influence - directly or indirectly - policymaking, policy implementation and decision-making in the European institutions, no matter where they are carried out or which channel or method of communication is used.”

Answer

Fully agree.

• Very strong definition. All efforts should be made to resist any demands to weaken it

Question 6

The Lobby register does not apply to certain entities, for example, churches and political parties, (…) but applies to local municipal authorities and ciitzes. The scope of the register should be:

Answer

Changed to include certain types of entities.

• All actors that undertake lobbying or that are representing their own interests should register. Citizens should know what lobbying all of them are carrying out
• Also law firms, PR firms and think tanks should be included in the mandatory lobby registry and should be required to declare all their clients 

Question 7

What is your impression of the Lobby Register website?

Answer

Check out the website and give your own opinion.

• The website has seen many improvements and has become more user-friendly
• Visitors of the website should be able to view and order the full list of registered lobbyists according to different categories, such as number of lobbyists employed, budget, issues covered 

Question 8

Final comments or ideas on additional subjects you consider important

Answer

• Further important changes beyond the legally binding lobby register are required:
• Improved monitoring of the data entries, as lobbyists frequently enter inaccurate or even frivolous data
• Improved sanctions to punish inaccurate or misleading information, such as through suspension from the registry and from meeting with politicians
• All EU decision-makers should be banned from meeting with unregistered lobbyists and should oblige them to publish online lists of all meetings held with lobbyists (existing rules should apply for all 30,000 employees, not only 300 senior officials)
• Lobby rules should apply also to the European Council, the Council of Ministers and Permanent Representations in Brussels, and not only the European Parliament and Commission