EU Boosts Lobbying Transparency

In a significant move to enhance transparency within its decision-making processes, the European Parliament’s Internal Market and Consumer Protection committee has recently adopted new rules aimed at regulating interest representation activities by non-EU countries. This directive seeks to address concerns about foreign interference in EU democracies and improve public trust in policy formulation.

The newly adopted directive stipulates that all interest representation activities, which include organizing events, participating in consultations, and preparing policy documents among others, will now be detailed in transparency registers. These registers will disclose the services provided, their funding sources, and the third countries involved. However, the directive exemits official government functions, media services, legal advice, and academic research from these requirements, while also implementing measures to protect civil society organizations from being wrongly stigmatized.

Rapporteur Adina Vălean highlighted the directive’s intentions, stating, “This is not about rhetoric but responding to the citizens’ demand for clarity on who influences our laws.” The directive, which received broad support across political groups, will next face debate and voting in the upcoming plenary session scheduled for late November in Strasbourg. Following parliamentary approval, interinstitutional discussions will commence to finalize the directive.

This legislative move comes as part of a broader effort to equip the EU with the tools necessary to safeguard its democratic processes against opaque foreign influences and ensure that lobbying activities are conducted transparently and ethically across member states.