Sixty percent of EU lobbying consultancies do not register in European Commission lobby transparency directory

On 11 March 2010, the Alliance for Lobbying Transparency and Ethics Regulation (ALTER-EU) published the results of a survey which found that sixty per cent of EU lobbying consultancies are still not registered. This occured despite the fact that two years ago the European Commission launched a voluntary lobby transparency register. The group of non-governmental organisations campaigning for tighter EU ethics rules said that the result showed the current approach was not working. The group has called on EU officials and MEPs to refuse to meet with lobbyists who have not signed the register.

ALTER-EU also called on the EU Institutions to implement the European Parliament resolution of May 2008, which would make the registration of all actors lobbying the EU institutions mandatory, including their names and detailed information on financing. Currently only 112 of 286 consultancies providing EU lobbying services feature in the European Commission’s register (39.2%). Of the missing 174 consultancies, 104 employ lobbyists who hold access badges to the European Parliament.

Michael Mann, spokesman for Commissioner Šefčovič in charge of the lobby register, said it was unfair to conclude that the voluntary approach was a failure. “It’s far too early to start ringing alarm bells,” Mr. Mann said. “We are pleased with the progress so far but this is a work in progress.” He also pointed out that consultancy firms are still signing up on a weekly basis.

Talks between MEPs and the Commission are ongoing over how they could create a common register.

MEP Diana Wallis, (ALDE UK), said “a number of issues” needed to be resolved, notably on access rules, whether lobbyists should be allowed badge access, and whether lawyers should also be on the register.

ALTER-EU spokesperson Erik Wesselius from Corporate Europe Observatory said: “Our survey shows that over 60% of all lobby firms active in Brussels do not bother to register and are not transparent about their activities. Genuine transparency can only be secured when registration becomes de facto mandatory, by linking physical access to disclosure requirements.”

Paul de Clerck of Friends of the Earth Europe said: “We hope that our blacklist of unregistered consultancies will serve as a working tool for EU officials and MEPs. If they are serious about ensuring transparency in the EU, they should stop meeting with unregistered lobbyists. Granting unregistered consultancies privileged access is both hampering transparency efforts and undermining the Commission’s and Parliament’s credibility”.

For Further Information

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

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