EU transparency register riddled with errors

The register of lobbyists introduced by the European Parliament and European Commission in 2011 is incomplete and filled with unreliable data, it has been claimed. The Alliance for Lobbying Transparency and Ethics Regulation, ALTER-EU, said in June 2013 that research showed why the register, which is currently run on a voluntary basis, should be made mandatory.

The European Commission and European Parliament are reviewing their Joint Transparency Register, and considering how best to secure lobbying transparency at EU level. All the signs emerging from the Commission say ALER-EU are that they would prefer to retain their voluntary and ‘light touch’ approach to lobbying regulation.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Lobbying – a legitimate exercise? http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-13-497_en.pdf

Public Service Europe, 20.06.13: Study claims EU lobby register 'seriously unreliable' http://www.publicserviceeurope.com/article/3622/eu-lobbying-register-seriously-unreliable-says-study

ESO: Background information: EU losing again in lobbying game http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-losing-again-in-lobbying-game/

ESO: Background information: Lobbyists escape mandatory EU register http://www.europeansources.info/record/lobbyists-escape-mandatory-eu-register/

http://www.alter-eu.org/ http://www.alter-eu.org/

ALTER-EU: Press Release, 20.06.13: Rescue the Register! How to make EU lobby transparency credible and reliable http://www.alter-eu.org/documents/2013/06/rescue-the-register

EUROPA: Transparency Register http://europa.eu/transparency-register/

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