Press Release: New measures to encourage lobbyists to sign the EU Transparency Register

In April 2014 the European Parliament and the European Commission adopted an Interinstitutional Agreement .... on the transparency register for organisations and self-employed individuals engaged in EU policy-making and policy implementation.

For the time being, the register will remain voluntary, due to the lack of a clear and straightforward legal basis for a mandatory register, and a desire on behalf of the Commission and Parliament to remain open to dialogue with all stakeholders regardless of their status.

On the 16 April 2014 the European Ombudsman, Emily O'Reilly, called on the Council of the European Union to participate in the Transparency Register of EU interest representatives. She also encouraged the European Commission to follow the European Parliament's (EP) example of introducing much stronger incentives for lobbyists to register. This follows the 15 April 2014 vote on a revised Transparency Register in the European Parliament.

• Primary Source

European Commission: RAPID: MEMO/14/302: The revised Transparency Register: more information, more incentives, tougher on those who break the rules http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-14-302_en.htm

ESO: Background information: EU lobby register on track to becoming mandatory http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-lobby-register-on-track-to-becoming-mandatory/

EurActiv, 16.04.14: EU lobbyist register to become mandatory by 2017 http://www.euractiv.com/sections/public-affairs/eu-lobbyist-register-become-mandatory-2017-301581

European Ombudsman: Press Release, 16.04.14: Ombudsman calls on Member States to back EU Transparency Register http://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/press/release.faces/en/54096/html.bookmark

Alter-EU: Press Release, 15.04.14: Parliament issues strong call for EU lobby transparency register to become mandatory http://www.alter-eu.org/press-releases/2014/04/15-0

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