Press Release: Ombudsman: Commission should improve accuracy and monitoring of the ‘Transparency Register’

In a Decision adopted on the 10 July 2013 the European Ombudsman, P. Nikiforos Diamandouros, called on the European Commission to follow the OECD principles for transparency and integrity in lobbying when revising the 'Transparency Register'. This would include providing better guidance for companies and organisations which register themselves, so as to ensure that the information given is accurate.

The NGO Friends of the Earth Europe had complained about the way the European Commission dealt with allegedly inaccurate declarations made by two multinationals. The 'Transparency Register' provides information about who is lobbying the EU institutions, which interests are being pursued, and the amounts invested in these activities.

EUROPA: Transparency Register http://europa.eu/transparency-register/

EUObserver, 12.07.13: Oil giant defends its EU lobby transparency http://euobserver.com/institutional/120845

Friends of the Earth Europe: Press Release, 11.07.13: European Commission guilty in Shell and BP lobby case http://www.foeeurope.org/european-commission-guilty-maladministration-shell-bp-110713

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