On Wednesday 23 April, the MEPs on the European Parliament’s Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI) examined the amendments to the report for an opinion on the proposal for a directive on harmonised transparency requirements for interest representation in third countries.
The rapporteur, Pascale Piera (PfE, French), pointed to a lack of cooperation from her colleagues during the proceedings, criticising in particular the “absence of any representative during the first technical meeting”.
She also denounced the “aberrant logic” of an alternative compromise. She went on to say that “the EPP is in fact aligned with our position, Renew Europe is keeping the same frame of mind and the S&D has a different position”.
“This alternative compromise will pass at the price of a total ideological bend. But, after all, I’d say that it’s not our problem. I’ve been consistent with the positions we defend. The EPP also shared these views. Now, if the EPP doesn't have the courage to discuss the issue, that’s its own way of playing politics”, she insisted.
She announced that she intended to support the motion for rejection tabled by the Greens/EFA and The Left. “As France has perfectly satisfactory legislation in this area, I would be perfectly in favour of also supporting this motion to reject”.
The Commission representative pointed out that the aim of the directive was to establish “very important standards to support transparency and democratic accountability for activities that have an impact on decision-making in the European Union and that are carried out on behalf of third countries”.
On the shadow rapporteurs’ side, Axel Voss (EPP, German), standing in for Polish MEP Michał Wawrykiewicz, welcomed a “constructive approach” between the political groups.
He spoke out against extending the scope of the directive. In his view, this would undermine “the objective of the directive and place too great a burden on European entities”.
On the other hand, José Cepeda (S&D, Spanish) called for the text to be strengthened: “I don’t think that broadening the scope of this proposal is a bad idea, quite the contrary. I believe that it would consolidate certain elements.”
He argued in favour of legislation that would apply to all entities, “regardless of where they are established or their sources of funding”.
The Vice-Chairman of the JURI Committee, Mario Mantovani (ECR, Italian), regretted the calls for rejection: “I wonder why the left-wing groups in the European Parliament are opposed to the proposal and want to restrict its application, when this proposal should be supported by everyone.”
The vote is scheduled for 13 May 2025. (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)