MEMBER STATES WITH NO LOBBYING RULES

There are 10 Member States without Lobbying Rules: Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal and Slovakia.

BELGIUM

Specific legislation on lobbying: No statutory rules

Code of conduct for lobbyists: No

A register for lobbyists: No

Access to Parliament buildings and other incentives: Interest representatives contact the secretariat of a senator or member of parliament directly for an invitation to enter Parliament buildings. Members of the House of Representatives may invite third persons to Parliament buildings.

Ongoing discussions: Recommendation n° 2 of the Compliance Report of GRECO of 28 March 2014 under the 4th Evaluation Round: “GRECO recommends that rules should be introduced for Members of Parliament on how to engage in relations with lobbyists and other third parties seeking to influence the parliamentary process.”

Related rules: The House of Representatives and the Senate have since 25 May 2014 a Code of Deontology appended to their Rules of Procedure. The Codes deal, among other things, with conflicts of interests.

BULGARIA

Specific legislation on lobbying: No statutory rules

Code of conduct for lobbyists: No

A register for lobbyists: No

References: Transparency of lobbying in Bulgaria - 13% according to the Transparency International Survey of 2015

Ongoing discussions: Continued debates on possible introduction of a register. Four bills were introduced in 2008 alone. MPs from the competent parliamentary committees of the National Assembly are discussing the eventual preparation of a bill to regulate lobbying.

CYPRUS

Specific legislation on lobbying: No statutory rules

Code of conduct for lobbyists: No

A register for lobbyists: No

Access to Parliament buildings and other incentives: Yes with a visitors badge

Related rules: Lobby groups may be invited to express opinions on particular issues in committee meetings, although it remains to the discretion of the chairman and the members of parliamentary committees to adopt or reject opinions expressed by interest groups.

ESTONIA

Specific legislation on lobbying: No statutory rules although open-ended promise (2013) by the Ministry of Justice to work on finding the most appropriate system of regulation of lobbying in Estonia.

Code of conduct for lobbyists: No

A register for lobbyists: No

Ongoing discussions: Discussions in 2012 on how to regulate lobbying . On 10.10.12 Justice Minister Kristen Michal presented the 'good practice of lobbying rules' and proposed regulation on lobbying with no follow up. Prime Minister Andrus Ansip, in May 2013, expressed support for lobby regulation on the basis of the US example in order to make the policy process more transparent.

Related rules:

 1. Rules on the drafting of legislation provide certain transparency conditions: Cabinet Rules of the normative technique of drafts of legislative acts, Parliament Rules for draft legislation in the legislative proceedings.

2. Parliamentary work is ongoing to address GRECO’s recommendation to develop and enforce a code of conduct for Members of Parliament, including restrictions on their activities after leaving office

GREECE

Specific legislation on lobbying: No statutory rules

Code of conduct for lobbyists: No

 A register for lobbyists: No

Access to Parliament buildings and other incentives: There is no specific obligation for the registration of lobbyists or the reporting of contacts between public officials and lobbyists.

Related rules: Statute Law 3126/2003 on Criminal responsibility of ministers. Members of Parliament are subject to self-regulation under the principals set out by the Constitution and the Standing Orders of the Hellenic Parliament. The Civil Service Code sets out the basic values and principles which civil servants should follow in performing their duties.

HUNGARY

Specific legislation on lobbying: No statutory rules. Lobbying regulation was abandoned by the government and replaced by Act CXXXI of 2010 On Public Participation in Developing Legislation, which came into force in January 2011.

Code of conduct for lobbyists: No

A register for lobbyists: According to the Central Office of Justice, as the guiding body of the register of the lobbyists and lobbying organizations, the procedure laid down in the Act XLIX of 2006 on Lobbying Activities could not continue, eliminating the possibility of registering. The register was closed in 2011, and the data contained erased in 2014.

Scope of coverage: Former register had narrow application, i.e. professional lobbyists

Access to Parliament buildings and other incentives: There is no official entry option to the Parliament building. Lobbyists and lobbying organizations have lost their privileges and obligations. They had to give back their lobby licenses. Professional chambers and associations can keep in touch with the decision-makers under the new Act. Strategic partners conclude a strategic cooperation agreement with the adequate ministry. The government informs the partners about the new drafts and amendments. The strategic partner is obliged to pass on the opinion of the sector.

Body responsible: Central Office of Justice

References: US disclosure act of 1995

Ongoing discussions: Government pleaded that the system did not contain dissuasive sanctions and had little impact in practice -internet consultations on draft bills is a more effective method; details regarding whom the government consulted once draft is complete are then posted on the internet.

Related rules: The Government decree on the system of integrity management within public administration issued in 2013 obliges public servants to ask prior permission from their hierarchy to meet lobbyists and to also report back on the contacts or outcome of meetings. There is no mechanism in place targeting the monitoring of the implementation of these obligations.

LUXEMBOURG

Specific legislation on lobbying: No statutory rules

Code of conduct for lobbyists: No

A register for lobbyists: No

Related rules: Loi du 1er avril 1979 sur le statut de la fonction publique — refers to the principles of neutrality and impartiality of public officials.

MALTA

Specific legislation on lobbying: No statutory rules

Code of conduct for lobbyists: No

A register for lobbyists: No

Related rules: A code of ethics requires Members of the House of Representatives to declare connections with persons that have a direct interest in legislation before the House

PORTUGAL

Specific legislation on lobbying: No statutory rules

Code of conduct for lobbyists: No - and it is also legal for Members of the Parliament to work part-time as MPs and part time as lobbyists, which they do, according to estimations, about 75 of them. The constitutions allows it.

A register for lobbyists: No

Access to Parliament buildings and other incentives: Lobbyists are subject to the general house rules governing access to, circulation and presence in the buildings of the Assembly.

Ongoing discussions: The Committee for Ethics, Citizenship and Communication organised a public debate on lobbying in July 2013. No bills have been presented in connection with this issue.

SLOVAKIA

Specific legislation on lobbying: No statutory rules

Code of conduct for lobbyists: No

A register for lobbyists: No

Ongoing discussions: During current election term (2012-2016) two draft bills on lobbying were submitted, although neither of them were approved.

Related rules: Constitutional Act on the Protection of Public Interest in the Performance of Offices by Public Officials No. 357/2004, as amended by Constitutional Act No. 545/2005