EU Transparency

Conservatives protect corporate interests

(9 May 2008, Brussels) The European Parliament adpoted a report on a framework for activities of lobbyists in the EU institutions. This has been welcomed by Alter-EU the alliance of European groups and including EPSU that has sought a mandatory register, funders and financial disclosure. However the conservatives and neo-liberals in the EP have managed to exclude law firms that provide lobby consultancy services. They also voted down more openess and transparency for the experts the (...)

Study reveals: Corporate interests dominate EU policymaking expert groups

(18 April 2008) EPSU is part of the Alter-Eu coalition that advocates more transparency of EU policy making. The importance of transparency was revealed poignantly by a report of the coalition on the European Commission’s Expert Groups. These groups play an influential role in shaping policies at EU level in the crucial early stages. They are involved in drafting and commenting on EU legislation covering awide range of policy issues, including, for example, energy and climate change, and (...)

"Lobbying the EU by Committee" - new CEO briefing

New briefing shows how corporations use Commission expert groups Corporate Observatory Europe, like EPSU a member of Alter-EU coalition that argues for more transperency of lobbyists, has produced a new briefing on the many committees that exist in the EU and whose expenses are very often paid by the European Commission. Corporations and corporate interests dominate these committees. CEO says:" Unknown to most citizens, a large part of European Union legislation is being drafted and (...)

Coalition: Commission Transparency Initiative is too timid

The Alter-EU coalition of which EPSU signed the founding declaration has criticised the Commission’s proposal for a voluntary lobby register to ensure transparency as a step which does not go far enough to make European policy making more transparent. Financial disclosure is important to find out which organisations fund corporate lobbies. It should apply also to law firms who act on behalf of certain clients. A link should have been made also with Corporate Social Responsibility and (...)

EPSU supports transparency campaign

The European Commission is consulting on its initiative to make lobby organisations more transparent. According to EPSU, and the large coalition of unions and NGOs this does not go far enough. More is needed. EPSU has sent a letter to the European Commissioner.
For more read our letter:

European coalition challenges EU lobby rules

The European Commission has published a Green Paper on a European Transparency Initiative. This paper argues for a voluntary registration system of lobbyists. It fails to address issues of disclosure so professional lobbyists make known for whom they work. The Green paper has been criticised by Alter-EU, a coalition of different organisations of which EPSU is also a member.
Read the press release below
Or on the website of Alter-EU http://www.alter-eu.org/
Press release ALTER EU
EU fails (...)

Transparency Initiative of EU Commission

Mr Kallas, the Commissioner for administration, audit and anti-fraud, announced a Commission initiative to bring more transparency in the European political decision-making process on 3 March 2005. The focus is to: ‘Increase financial accountability’ and to ‘Strengthen personal integrity and institutional independence.’ This should contribute to transparency of the institutions and to transparency of interest groups, that lobby the institutions. Several corporations fund PR firms who (...)

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