Today the European Parliament's Legal Affairs Committee adopted the opinion of Diana Wallis MEP's (LibDem, UK) on a common framework for lobbyists working in the European Union. Some estimates claim that the number of lobbyists in Brussels is reaching Washington proportions. It is necessary, against this backdrop, for EU institutions to have robust systems in place. The report also insists that lawyers who act as lobbyists must be subject to the same rules as everybody else.

The opinion casts doubt on a voluntary registration system as originally proposed by the Commission as it is unlikely to be sufficiently different from the present system.

"For reasons of equality and consistency, we will almost inevitably have to move to a mandatory system", said Ms Wallis.

The report is also critical of the Council. Ms. Wallis says:

"The Council is a co-legislator with the Parliament. Its role in lobbying is less than transparent, both in the way it lobbies the other institutions, and in the way it is lobbied itself. The Court of Justice in its landmark ruling yesterday is similarly unhappy with their level of transparency in this area. A Member State cannot simply object to disclosure of a document by a Community institution from that same Member State in an unconditional and discretionary manner."

Ms. Wallis was disappointed by the announced withdrawal by the main rapporteur Stubb of his idea of a legislative footprint for MEPs. Ms. Wallis said:

"Even on a voluntary basis this would allow the public to see where their representatives' ideas and amendments are coming from. This was a great idea and one I have pursued in my own opinion - I hope plenary will endorse it."

Notes to Editors:
The judgment referred to is case C 64/05 P, Sweden e.a. v. Commission, 18 December 2007, in which the Court of Justice set aside a judgment by the CFI and annulled a Commission decision refusing access to a document request by the International Fund for Animal Welfare.

Ms Wallis' draft opinion and amendments tabled are available here.