EP VOTES FOR MANDATORY TRANSPARENCY REGISTER

On Tuesday 15 April 2014, during the last plenary session in Strasbourg before the European Parliament elections an overwhelming majority of MEPs (646) voted in favour of a mandatory Transparency Register by 2016 ('Calls on the Commission to submit by the end of 2016, a legislative proposal for the establishment of a mandatory register).

In the meantime and in order to encourage lobbyists working with the EU institutions to sign up the EU's Transparency Register, the EP introduces the following measures:

• Encourage EP staff and MEPs, when approached by a lobbying firm that has not been registered to urge it to do so before meeting its representative,
• Restrict access to EP premises for non-registered organizations;
• Facilitate authorization to organize or co-host events on EP premises for registered lobbyists
• Facilitate transmission of information, including through specific mailing lists, for registered lobbyists;
• Allow participation of registered lobbyists as speakers in committee hearings;
• Restrict the EP's patronage of events to registered lobbyists.

The EP also acts the Commission to adopt similar measures.

The European Parliament also wants a more detailed definition of 'inappropriate behaviour' than the one laid down in the Code of Conduct attached to the Register and calls for full disclosure of the identity of all clients represented by each registered organization.

For the European Parliament, 'inapproriate behaviour' includes: interference in the private sphere or personal life of decision-makers, e.g. by sending gifts to a decision-maker's home address, or approaching decision-makers at their home address or via their relatives or friends; performance, or any active promotion, of activities in the field of communication with the EU institutions and their Members or staff which are liable to impair the functionality of the EU institutions' communication systems, particularly in cases where such activities are performed anonymously; failing to declare the interests or clients, being represented when contacting a Member of the European Parliament or officials or other staff of the European Parliament with regard to the legislative process; employing 'front groups', i.e. organisations which hide the interests and parties they serve, the latter not being registered in the Transparency Register; and employing the representatives of third countries when engaged in direct and indirect lobbying activities; offer or grant support, whether financial or in terms of staff or material to Members of the European Parliament or their assistants. Furthermore, the EP believes that the Code of Conduct attached to the Agreement of 23 June 2011 and the Code of Conduct for Members of the European Parliament with respect to financial interests and conflicts of interest should be amended in order to ensure that Members do not enter into any kind of agreement or contractual relationship with an external body to either fund or directly employ individuals within a Member's staff.

Overview of the Transparency Register

I. Professional Consultancies/Law Firms/Self-Employed Consultants

Professional Consultancies: Firms carrying on, on behalf of clients, activities involving advocacy, lobbying, promotion, public affairs and relations with public authorities.

Law Firms: Law firms carrying on, on behalf of clients, activities involving advocacy, lobbying, promotion, public affairs and relations with public authorities.

Self-Employed Consultants: Self-employed consultants or lawyers carrying on, on behalf of clients, activities involving advocacy, lobbying, promotion, public affairs and relations with public authorities. For registration of entities employing only one person.

II. In-House Lobbyists and Trade/Business/Professional Associations

Companies and groups: Companies or group of companies (with or without legal status) carrying on in-house, for their own account, activities involving advocacy, lobbying, promotion, public affairs and relations with public authorities.

Trade and Business Associations: Organisations (either profit or non-profit making themselves) representing profit-making companies or mixed groups and platforms.

Trade Unions and Professional Associations: Interest representation of workers, employees, trades or professions.

Other organisations including: event-organising entities (profit or non-profit making); interest related media or research oriented entities linked to private profit making interests; ad-hoc coalitions and temporary structures (with profit-making membership).

III. Non-Governmental Organisations

Non-governmental organisations, platforms, networks, ad-hoc coalitions, temporary structures and other similar organisations: Not-for-profit organisations (with or without legal status), which are independent from public authorities or commercial organisations. Includes foundations, charities etc. Any such entity, including profit-making elements among its membership must register in Section II

IV. Think Tanks, Research and Academic Institutions

Think-Tanks and Research Institutions: Specialised think tanks and research institutions dealing with the activities and policies of the European Union.

Academic Institutions: Institutions whose primary purpose is education but that deal with the activities and policies of the European Union

V. Organisations representing churches and religious communities

Organisations representing churches and religious communities: Legal entities, offices, networks or associations set up for representation activities

VI. Organisations representing local, regional and municipal authorities, other public or mixed entities etc.

Regional Structures: Regions themselves and their representative offices are not expected to register but can register if they wish to do so. National associations or networks created to represent regions collectively are expected to register.

Other sub-national public authorities: All other sub-national public authorities, such as cities, local and municipal authoties, or their representation offices, and national associations or networks are expected to register.

Transnational associations adn networks of public regional or other sub-national authorities

Other public or mixed entities created by law whose purpose is to act in the public interest