Brussels, 22/06/2012 (Agence Europe) - The Transparency Register, set jointly in place by the European Commission and European Parliament, celebrates its first anniversary on 23 June. This coincides with a decision by the Council of Ministers to be represented by sending an observer to the joint secretariat that deals with the day-to-day management of the register. The Transparency Register, which can be consulted online by one and all, includes information on those defending specific interests, lobbyists and organisations or persons defending given causes. Maros Sefcovic, Commission Vice-President, considers this first year has been a success, saying: “The registration figures speak for themselves - more than 5,150 organisations are now bound by the same code of conduct in their interactions with our institutions, and registrations continue their upward trend”. (EL/transl.jl)