EU agrees to ‘strengthen’ lobbying Transparency Register

Government representatives in Council of the EU to use register for first time

The EU’s three main policymaking bodies, the European Commission, European Parliament and Council of the EU, have agreed to “strengthen” their transparency around lobbying by “reinforcing” the Transparency Register already used by the Commission and Parliament, with the Council now set to join them.

“The agreement establishes principles and rules for a coordinated approach to transparent and ethical interest representation at EU level, building a common culture of transparency,” the Commission said on 15 December. It said organisations will have to enter themselves on the register before seeking to influence policymaking or legislating with any of the three institutions.