In line with their commitment to transparency, the Parliament and the Commission intend to establish and operate a common register —‘The Transparency Register’ — for the registration and monitoring of the organisations and independent individuals engaged in EU policy making and policy implementation. It will be built upon the existing systems set up and launched by the Parliament in 1996 and the Commission in June 2008 and it is expected that it become operational in the course of 2011.

The Council of Ministers has been invited to join this register. As of today, the Council is still examining this invitation and the Commission cannot prejudge what will be the outcome of this process.