Transparency Register

2.7.2012

Question for written answer E-006633/2012
to the Commission
Rule 117
Cornelis de Jong (GUE/NGL)

The study ‘Dodgy data: Time to fix the EU’s Transparency Register’[1] shows that many lobbyists active in Brussels are not registered. Furthermore, much of the information in the register is clearly unreliable.

A review of the register will take place next year, but easily achievable measures could be taken before the results are ready in order to rectify the abovementioned shortcomings.

Is the Commission willing to provide clearer guidelines on the data to be declared in the Transparency Register? Examples might include guidelines on how to calculate lobbying costs, a clearer description of what constitutes lobbying activities, and the fields in which registered lobby organisations are active.

The study shows that under-reporting is a serious problem. For example, more than 50 consultancies, consultants and law firms in the register declare that they spend nothing or one euro on lobbying. As the current random checks are clearly insufficient, what measures will the Commission take to ensure that all data entered in the register is actively checked?

• [1] ‘Dodgy data: Time to fix the EU’s Transparency Register’, Alliance for Lobbying Transparency and Ethics Regulation, June 2012.

OJ C 263 E, 12/09/2013