Brussels, 23/12/2008 (Agence Europe) - The Register of Interest Representatives, which was launched on 23 June 2008, is making good progress (http://www.ec.europa.eu/transparency/regrin ). The European citizens now have direct access to information on the systems, diversity and multitude of interests represented: less than six months after the register opened, 720 organisations had registered on 22 December and this figure is growing every day: 44 specialist law firms and consultants, 434 in-house lobbyists and trade associations active in lobbying (including 282 professional associations), 190 NGOs or reflection groups and 52 other organisations.
Given that a considerable number of federations have now put together guidelines on the registration of their members, the Commission expects this pace to continue or even increase early next year, and anticipates that all of the interest representatives who care about their reputation and are committed to transparency will join up over the next few weeks.
It is worth noting that this optional register comes under the heading of the European transparency initiative. The register gives interest representatives the opportunity to show that they are committed to transparency and the legitimacy of their activities. By signing up, they commit to respect the rules of the code of conduct. (L.C./trans.fl)