Brussels, 25/11/2014 (Agence Europe) - As indicated last week, the College of Commissioners adopted two decisions on Tuesday 25 November increasing the transparency of Commission members.
The decisions require the commissioners, members of their private offices and directors general to publish on a website the dates, locations, names of the organisations and self-employed individuals met and the topics of discussion of its bilateral meetings within two weeks of the meetings. The decisions will take effect on 1 December.
In 2015, Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker will bring forward a proposal for an inter-institutional agreement to create a compulsory register of lobbyists covering all three EU institutions (Council, Commission and Parliament).
In a press release, European Ombudsman Emily O'Reilly welcomed this move to increase transparency. With Brussels now being the second most important “lobbying capital” in the world after Washington, it is proper, she says, that “the highest ethical standards” apply. She also welcomed the proposed register, though she would like to see it eventually based on legislation, and not just as an inter-institutional agreement, she states in a press release. Transparency in bilateral meetings will be a moral obligation for Commission officials, no specific monitoring mechanism having been planned. (SP)