Codes of conduct typically address the relationships inherent in lobbying amongst lobbyists and their clients or employers, public office holders, and the general public. While existing codes of conduct differ in detail, they all incorporate similar principles, such as the need for frank disclosure, appropriate confidentiality, and the avoidance of real or perceived conflicts of interest.

TRANSPARENCY

Lobbying in the countyries of the former Yugoslavia is a relatively new phenomenon, but it has been growing constantly over the last decade. However, most of the population and decision-makers have a very unclear idea of what lobbying actually is.

In all countries of the former Yugoslavia, lobbyists attempt to get an official recognition that lobbying is a unique profession.

The Public Policy Advocacy landscape does not just include 'lobbyists' as meaning parties paid to have a direct personal communication with government officials with the objective to influence policies and decision-making processes. The reality is that today the public policy advocacy process has become much more sophisticated and often involves large teams of individuals and organizations with various specialties that are not subject to regulatory and transparency requirements.

The EU Commission has intensified its dialogue on the rule of law with candidate and potential candidate countries. In the reports on these countries, the fight against corruption has been highlighted. The aim of the dialogue on the rule of law is to strengthen benchmarking aimed at enhanced transparency at earlier stages of the accession process as well as building capacities and establishing effective tools in fighting corruption in respective countries.

AALEP Chair (Mr. Christian D. de Fouloy) has been invited by the European Commission to serve as Expert on the occasion of an event organized within the Technical Assistance Information Exchange Instrument of the European Commission (TAIEX) in cooperation with the Montenegrin Ministry of Justice/Directorate for Anti-Corruption Initiative and RACVIAC-Centre for Security Cooperation that will take place in Podgorica, Montenegro on 05-06 June 2013.

The definition of Public Policy Advocacy and Public Policy Advocates is a complex issue. From our perspective, the definition should be simple and capture the widest possible range of public policy advocacy activities: A Public Policy Advocate is anyone paid to (i) arrange or facilitate contact with officials; (ii) communicate with officials to influence legislation, regulation, or government policy, and for government contracts and grants; and (iii) work in support of (i) and/or (ii).

Increasingly for many multinational firms, the engagement of outside lobbyists is considered a high risk contract. Anytime an outside lobbyist engages in lobbying activity on behalf of a company, it may trigger certain registration requirements for the company and/or reporting obligations. So increasingly companies want to make certain that the lobbyists they hire are in compliance with all applicable laws and reporting requirements.

For getting the European Union back on track, the decision-making role of member states' governments should be recognized as a fundamental condition for the existence and the functioning of the EU. It is not accidental that the European Council has emerged as the main decision-making of the EU and its president as a more influential actor than the Commission's president. One can assume that, there being no prohibitions in this respect in the Lisbon Treaty, the future evolution of the EU will eventually lead to a re-composition of the two presidencies in a single person.

The Euro Zone has revealed the reform need of Europe and there is a need for a radical change. The present crisis will shape Europe again. The Euro crisis points to an important break in terms of the building of Europe with unstable structure and to a new construction process. The main problem lies in the economical integration/political paradox which is a structural problem resulting from the euro zone structure rather than the irresponsible policies of the member states.

The speech below was prepared for the Public Affairs Community in Europe's (P.A.C.E.) meeting to be held this year in on 23-24 May in Paris, France and organized by the A.F.C.L. (Association Française des Conseils en Lobbying). 

Ladies and Gentlemen,