EU transparency register proposed

The European Commission has proposed the setting up of a mandatory Transparency Register covering all three EU institutions – the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission.

The Commission said that it had already led by example in making meetings with its decision-makers conditional upon ‘interest representatives’ being publicly listed in a transparency register.

Now, it was calling on the European Parliament and Council to follow suit by making the register mandatory for any interest representatives trying to influence policy-making in Brussels.

“The EU institutions need to work together to win back the trust of our citizens,” said first vice-president Frans Timmermans. “We must be more open in everything we do.”

The Commission said that its proposals for a mandatory transparency register covering the Parliament, Council and Commission comprised an important step in the right direction.

Citizens had the right to know who tried to influence EU law-making.

The Commission said it was proposing a simple rule: no meeting with decision-makers without prior registration.

Through the Register, the public would be able to see who was lobbying, who they represented and how much they were spending.