Press Release: Ombudsman: European Commission not transparent enough about tobacco lobbying

Emily O'Reilly, the European Ombudsman, considered in October 2015 that the Barroso Commission had not been transparent enough about its meetings with the tobacco industry.

According to the Ombudsman, the European Commission was not fully implementing UN World Health Organisation (WHO) rules and guidelines governing transparency and tobacco lobbying, to which the European Union is a party.

Ms O'Reilly called on the Juncker Commission to proactively to publish online all meeting with tobacco lobbyists, or their legal representatives, as well as the minutes of those meetings.

She also invited the Commission to explain by 31 December 2015 how it sought to implement her recommendations. In addition, Emily O'Reilly has requested an update on the Commission's intention to introduce a mandatory register of lobbyists.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information; Commission's alleged secret contacts with the tobacco industry under EU investigation http://www.europeansources.info/record/commissions-alleged-secret-contacts-with-the-tobacco-industry-under-eu-investigation/

EUObserver, 05.10.15: EU officials kept tobacco meetings under wraps https://euobserver.com/institutional/130531

EurActiv, 05.10.15: Commission in breach of UN tobacco lobbying rules, says EU Ombudsman http://www.euractiv.com/sections/science-policymaking/commission-breach-un-tobacco-lobbying-rules-says-eu

European Ombudsman: Recommendation of the European Ombudsman in the inquiry into complaint 852/2014/LP against the European Commission regarding its compliance with the Tobacco Control Convention http://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/cases/draftrecommendation.faces/en/61021/html.bookmark

Transparency International: Press Release, 05.10.15: Ombudsman recommends full transparency of tobacco lobbying. http://www.transparencyinternational.eu/2015/10/press-release-ombudsman-recommends-full-transparency-of-tobacco-lobbying/

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