Report warns of lobbyists influence on cross-party groups of MEPs -
Calls for tightening of European Parliament transparency rules
Amsterdam/Brussels, October 9 2006
A new report by Corporate Europe Observatory shows that the European Parliament´s rules on intergroups fail to secure even the most basic levels of transparency, particularly around the involvement of lobbyists in these MEP groupings. Working through intergroups and MEP-industry forums has become a popular strategy for lobbyists aiming to influence Parliament decisions.
"Industry invests heavily in cross- party groups because these are seen as an effective way to gain direct access to MEPs. At the same time, there is very little information available to the public about the activities and funding sources of these groups", says Nina Holland, author of the report.
25 intergroups are officially recognized, but compliance with the Parliament´s transparency obligations is very low. An example is the Sky and Space Intergroup, which in the register kept in the Parliament, fails to disclose the outside support it gets from ASD, the Aerospace and Defence Industries Association of Europe. ASD, Europe´s leading arms industry lobby group, provides the intergroup´s secretariat, coordinates its activities and uses the intergroup to lobby MEPs.
The 25 official intergroups are only the tip of the iceberg and the number of unregistered intergroups continues to increase; as many as 60 of these groups remain outside of the sphere of parliamentary transparency rules.
A separate category, the so called MEP-industry forums, have both MEPs and business lobbyists as members but do not consider themselves intergroups. The activities of these forums, often bringing together dozens of MEPs with industry representatives, are almost entirely funded by their corporate membership. In several cases the secretariats are hosted by corporate lobby groups or by lobbying consultancy firms. Many major industry sectors have their own forum for lobbying MEPs, including the software, financial services, energy, nuclear, construction, automobile and pharmaceutical industries. Examples highlighted in the report include the European Energy Forum and the Forum for the Automobile and Society.
The report calls for parliamentary disclosure and accountability rules to be tightened and more effectively enforced. An online register is needed to improve public scrutiny and expose potential undue lobbying tactics. The report concludes that transparency obligations should be introduced for all cross-party groups involving MEPs, and also for unregistered intergroups and MEP-industry forums.
Notes:
1) The report "Transparency Boost Needed for European Parliament Cross-Party Groups" is available online at: http://www.corporateeurope.org/crosspartygroups.pdf
2) Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) is an independent, non-profit research and campaign group based in Amsterdam. See also: http://www.corporateeurope.org
Please see:
Worst EU Lobby Award 2006 - Nominations Now Open
This year, the organisers are inviting you, and all members of the public to
nominate for the Worst EU Lobby Award. So if you know of a case of dubious
influence peddling, of grievous greenwash and hideous hidden agendas then don't
hesitate to let us know. This year we have two categories of award:
The Worst EU Lobbying & The Worst Privileged Access
Nominate online at http://www.worstlobby.eu
Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO)
De Wittenstraat 25
1052 AK Amsterdam
Netherlands
tel: +31-20-612-7023
e-mail: ceo@corporateeurope.org
http://www.corporateeurope.org
http://www.eulobbytours.org
http://www.waterjustice.org
Calls for tightening of European Parliament transparency rules
Amsterdam/Brussels, October 9 2006
A new report by Corporate Europe Observatory shows that the European Parliament´s rules on intergroups fail to secure even the most basic levels of transparency, particularly around the involvement of lobbyists in these MEP groupings. Working through intergroups and MEP-industry forums has become a popular strategy for lobbyists aiming to influence Parliament decisions.
"Industry invests heavily in cross- party groups because these are seen as an effective way to gain direct access to MEPs. At the same time, there is very little information available to the public about the activities and funding sources of these groups", says Nina Holland, author of the report.
25 intergroups are officially recognized, but compliance with the Parliament´s transparency obligations is very low. An example is the Sky and Space Intergroup, which in the register kept in the Parliament, fails to disclose the outside support it gets from ASD, the Aerospace and Defence Industries Association of Europe. ASD, Europe´s leading arms industry lobby group, provides the intergroup´s secretariat, coordinates its activities and uses the intergroup to lobby MEPs.
The 25 official intergroups are only the tip of the iceberg and the number of unregistered intergroups continues to increase; as many as 60 of these groups remain outside of the sphere of parliamentary transparency rules.
A separate category, the so called MEP-industry forums, have both MEPs and business lobbyists as members but do not consider themselves intergroups. The activities of these forums, often bringing together dozens of MEPs with industry representatives, are almost entirely funded by their corporate membership. In several cases the secretariats are hosted by corporate lobby groups or by lobbying consultancy firms. Many major industry sectors have their own forum for lobbying MEPs, including the software, financial services, energy, nuclear, construction, automobile and pharmaceutical industries. Examples highlighted in the report include the European Energy Forum and the Forum for the Automobile and Society.
The report calls for parliamentary disclosure and accountability rules to be tightened and more effectively enforced. An online register is needed to improve public scrutiny and expose potential undue lobbying tactics. The report concludes that transparency obligations should be introduced for all cross-party groups involving MEPs, and also for unregistered intergroups and MEP-industry forums.
Notes:
1) The report "Transparency Boost Needed for European Parliament Cross-Party Groups" is available online at: http://www.corporateeurope.org/crosspartygroups.pdf
2) Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) is an independent, non-profit research and campaign group based in Amsterdam. See also: http://www.corporateeurope.org
Please see:
Worst EU Lobby Award 2006 - Nominations Now Open
This year, the organisers are inviting you, and all members of the public to
nominate for the Worst EU Lobby Award. So if you know of a case of dubious
influence peddling, of grievous greenwash and hideous hidden agendas then don't
hesitate to let us know. This year we have two categories of award:
The Worst EU Lobbying & The Worst Privileged Access
Nominate online at http://www.worstlobby.eu
Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO)
De Wittenstraat 25
1052 AK Amsterdam
Netherlands
tel: +31-20-612-7023
e-mail: ceo@corporateeurope.org
http://www.corporateeurope.org
http://www.eulobbytours.org
http://www.waterjustice.org