Brussels, 20/04/2011 (Agence Europe) - Proposals for an EP-Commission joint register of lobbyists and other interest groups were backed by the EP's constitutional affairs committee on Tuesday 19 April. The EP and the Commission each currently have their own lobbying registers. The new agreement will help set up a joint EP-Commission register. The constitutional affairs committee is calling on the Council of Ministers of the EU to join this “transparency register”.
The agreement on a transparency register is expected to be approved in May by the European Parliament. The common register is scheduled to be available online in June 2011. “This is a step forward, but obviously we will have to take others after this”, said rapporteur Carlo Casini (EPP, IT). This “one-stop shop” system should also facilitate the registration of representatives of specific interests. The “lobby” register would be renamed the “transparency” register to make it easier for non-commercial organisations, such as think-tanks and churches, to join.
Voluntary registration. Registration would not be mandatory, even though this is what many MEPs would wish. It is considered mandatory in that permanent access to Parliament premises will only be granted to representatives of interests that have been included on the register. MEPs welcomed the fact that the Council has expressed its wish to join the agreement on the register.
“Legislative footprint”. The committee also backs plans for a “legislative footprint” annex to reports drafted by the MEPs. This annex would list all the lobbyists whom the rapporteurs met while drafting their reports. The new joint register will also provide additional information, such as the number of individuals involved in all activities relating to the register, and the level of EU resources received by the registrant. It will also clarify precisely which activities are covered by the register, and set out procedures for handling complaints and sanctions. At the same time, a working group headed by EP President Jerzy Buzek is involved in the task of strengthening rules for lobbyists and the code of conduct for MEPs.
Financial declarations. In a separate report on Parliament's rules of procedure, the committee proposed that MEPs should update their financial declarations “as soon as changes occur”, and at least once a year. (L.C./transl.fl)