Secret lobbying by law firms shows the need for a mandatory transparency register

Corporate Europe Observatory wrote that in November 2013 the review being undertaken by the European Commission and the European Parliament of the Register of Interest Representatives (Lobbying Register) was entering its crucial final phase.

The Working Group on the register review - consisting of Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič and MEPs led by German Christian Democrat Rainer Wieland – was expected to make important decisions in a meeting on 13 November 2013.

CEO argued that the current voluntary system of registering in the Register was unsatisfactory. It said that the most important weakness was the continued boycott of the register by law firms that lobby. The credibility of the EU's lobby register was at stake unless the law firms were forced to register.

ESO: Background information: EU transparency register riddled with errors http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-transparency-register-riddled-with-errors/

ESO: Background information: Parliament VP: 'Be careful tightening transparency measures' http://www.europeansources.info/record/parliament-vp-be-careful-tightening-transparency-measures/

European Commission: Transparency http://ec.europa.eu/transparency/index_en.htm

ESO: Background information: Review of the European Transparency Register http://www.europeansources.info/record/review-of-the-european-transparency-register/

New York Times, 18.10.13: Lobbying Bonanza as Firms Try to Influence European Union http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/19/world/europe/lobbying-bonanza-as-firms-try-to-influence-european-union.html?_r=1&

Blog: We Europeans, 15.11.13: Lobbying in Brussels is big business http://hill.blogactiv.eu/2013/11/15/lobbying-in-brussels-is-big-business/

EurActiv, 20.11.13: Transparency review to 'make life difficult' for Brussels lobbyists http://www.euractiv.com/pa/review-lobby-database-life-diffi-news-531807

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