Increasing decision-making transparency in the EU institutions; mandatory registration of interest groups in a common register

26.4.2010

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3149/10
by Elena Oana Antonescu (PPE)
to the Commission

In its resolution of 8 May 2008 (P6_TA(2008)0197), Parliament welcomed the creation of a ‘one‑stop shop’ where lobbyists could register with both the Commission and Parliament, and called for an agreement between the Council, the Commission and Parliament on a common mandatory register.

In the joint statement by the Parliament and Commission joint working group on lobbying[1], the Commission undertook to take the first steps towards increasing the transparency of the decision‑making process in the European Union in respect of the European public by establishing a register of interest group representatives which operates on a non‑mandatory basis.

1. Does the Commission intend to take matters a step further by making registration mandatory for interest groups working in contact with the Commission?

2. What are the next steps the Commission is planning to take in order to increase decision‑making transparency in the Commission?

• [1] http://ec.europa.eu/archives/commission_2004-2009/kallas/doc/joint_statement_register.pdf

OJ C 138 E, 07/05/2011