ECONOMIC FORUM
Lobbyists and lobbying in the EU legislative process. Is "lobbying" a dirty
word?
or
Information, lobbying and the legislative process in the EU
Democratic principles and transparency are found in the EU Treaty and the EU Charter of
Fundamental Rights. Since 1993, EU documents were initiated and approved to describe
framework to regulate the relationship between the EC and interest groups.
In the light of an unprecedented expansion of lobbying in Brussels and the complex nature of
European public policy process, EU is faced with the pressing issues of regulating lobbyists and
improving transparency. This was one of the reasons that, in an effort to give a further boost to
the transparency of the EU's decision-making process, the European Parliament and the European
Commission were launched in June 2011 a joint, public Transparency Register which provides
more information than ever before on those who seek to influence European policy.
The revised Interinstitutional Agreement from 2014 stipulate at art.7 that the scope of the
Transparency Register covers all activities "carried out in order to directly or indirectly influences
the development or implementation of policies and decision-making processes of the EU
institutions, regardless of where they are made and whatever channel or medium of
communication used ".
In November 2014, with the occasion of hearings within European Parliament, the new European
Commission says it will improve transparency by publishing records of all meetings between
senior officials and lobbyists. “We have moved from a time where government used to have an
attitude towards the public of ‘trust me!’, to a situation now where the public says to government
‘show me!’, and we want to show, very clearly, we want to be fully transparent about the
meetings we have,” said Commission First Vice-President Frans Timmermans.
Is lobbying a dirty word? The word lobbying conjures up a number of different reactions, ranging
from concern, enthusiasm or general lack of understanding about the general ideas or processes.
In fact, lobbying is a widespread phenomenon and can be used as a very effective tool by private
and legal entities, to ensure their voice is properly heard in the legislative process.
Invited Speakers:
Michelle Sutton, Deputy Head of Cabinet EC’s First Vice President Frans Timmermans
Simina Elena Tănăsescu, Presidential Counselor, professor at Faculty of Law, Bucharest
University, Romania
Prof. Siegbert Alber, Chairman of the Alber & Geiger firm, former Vice-President of the
European Parliament and Advocate General at the Court of Justice of the European Union.
Laura Florea, President Romanian Lobby Register Association
Olivier Hoedeman, Researcher and Campaign co-ordinator at Corporate Europe Observatory
(CEO), Brussels
Commentators:
Carlos Puente Martin, PhD, Professor, Member of Team Europe (Spain), European
Commission
Christophe Leclercq, founder and publisher Euractiv.com PLS
Moderator:
Gabriela Drăgan, PhD, Director General, European Institute of Romania