Back
NGOs bring out recommendations to avoid lobby scandals
BRUSSELS, 17 January 2006 -- The Alliance for Lobbying Transparency and
Ethics Regulation, ALTER-EU has written to Commissioner Siim Kallas
recommending concrete and simple steps to make lobbying transparency a
reality in the near future. ALTER-EU stresses that the EU needs rules on
lobbying to avoid Abramoff scandals happening in Europe.
In a letter [1] signed by the interim steering committee of ALTER-EU, a
coalition of over 140 NGOs and trade unions from all over Europe, ALTER-EU
makes detailed recommendations for improving transparency and ethics in
European lobbying. The letter comes ahead of the expected publication by
the European Commission of a Green Book on the European Transparency
Initiative (ETI) in March.
The ALTER-EU proposal includes specific recommendations for a lobby
registration and disclosure system, for rules of conduct (e.g. regarding
the "revolving door" between EU institutions and lobby firms) and for
ensuring equal access for different interest groups to EU decision-making.
ALTER-EU suggests establishing an independent public body with the
necessary powers to act as a public guardian of lobbying transparency and
ethics, e.g. a new lobbying transparency unit in the office of the
European Ombudsman.
Paul de Clerck [2], campaigner at Friends of the Earth Europe said: "With
our letter we have shown that simple practical measures can be taken by
the Commission to make lobbying transparency a reality in the near future.
The Commission must now drive the European Transparency Initiative forward
to provide visibility around lobbying for the European public, instead of
waiting for lobbyists to come up with ineffective voluntary codes."
"ALTER-EU is ready to engage in that process and any discussions based
upon a commitment to boost transparency and ethics in lobbying in
Brussels", explained Ulrich Mueller from LobbyControl, a German lobby
watchdog. "For ALTER-EU two objectives should guide the forthcoming ETI
debate: ensuring comprehensive information for the public about who is
lobbying on what issues and who is financing these lobby activities as
well as equal access for different stakeholders to European
decision-making."
In the US the Abramoff scandal has led parties from all sides in
Washington to call for a tightening of existing US lobbying disclosure and
ethics rules. "In Brussels, not even basic rules presently exist for its
estimated 15,000 lobbyists", says Erik Wesselius of Corporate Europe
Observatory. "The Commission cannot afford for this situation to continue
and should proceed quickly with the lobbying disclosure chapter of the
European Transparency Initiative."
For more information, please contact:
Paul de Clerck, Friends of the Earth Europe, +32 2 542 6107,
paul@milieudefensie.nl
Erik Wesselius, Corporate Europe Observatory, +31 30 2364422,
erik@corporateeurope.org
Ulrich Mueller, LobbyControl, +49 221 169 6507, u.mueller@lobbycontrol.de
Notes for editors
1) Copies of the letter sent to the commission and the accompanying
detailed recommendations are available at
http://www.alter-eu.org/docs/letter-20060113.pdf and
http://www.alter-eu.org/docs/recommendations-20060113.pdf
More information on ALTER-EU: http://www.alter-eu.org
2) Paul De Clerck, Erik Wesselius and Ulrich Mueller are members of the
Interim Steering Committee of ALTER-EU.
3) Commissioner Kallas first announced The European Transparency
Initiative (ETI) in a flagship speech on 5 March 2005. The ETI is among
other things intended to correct the current lack of transparency around
the over 15,000 lobbyists working to influence the EU institutions.
http://europa.eu.int/comm/commission_barroso/kallas/transparency_en.htm
4) ALTER-EU and J@YS will hold a public debate on the European
Transparency Initiative on January 27th International Press Centre,
Résidence Palace, Maelbeek Room, 10am-12 with representatives from all
sides to the debate over lobbying transparency, and an expert on the
Abramoff case, see www.alter-eu.org for further details.
