Raad sluit mogelijk ook aan bij Transparantieregister (en)

Transparency Register - this will be the name of the register to include lobbyists and other interest group representatives operating in the European Parliament and the European Commission. On behalf of the Council i, Minister of State for EU Affairs Eniko Gyori i pointed out that the Council was also ready to look at ways of participating in the Transparency Register.

On 11 May 2011, the European Parliament (EP) could approve the establishment of the “Transparency Register”, which would contain information about interest groups operating in the EP and the European Commission. Registration would not only be mandatory for lobbyists but also for other organisations seeking contact with these European institutions, such as churches and think tanks.

The European Parliament is expected to call on the Council to join the system held jointly with the Commission.

“The Council is aware that citizens expect compliance with the highest possible standards of those to whom they entrust their affairs. For this reason, the Council welcomes the initiative of the European Parliament and the Commission to set up the Transparency Register”, Minister of State for EU Affairs Eniko Gyori said at the EP plenary meeting on 10 May 2011, in the debate preceding the EP vote.

The Minister of State welcomed the reports of Italian MEP for the People’s Party Carlo Casini, which could result, if approved, in the establishment of the Transparency Register in the following months. “In this way, we can demonstrate once again that the EU is not only committed to transparency in words but also in deeds”, said Ms Gyori.

The Minister of State added, the Council had been invited to join the Transparency Register. She reminded that the Council had not fully participated in setting up the register so far because interest groups did not usually get into direct contact with this institution, instead, their activities were focussed more on Member States.

Yet, speaking on behalf of the Council, the Hungarian Minister of State confirmed in the plenary debate that "we are ready to discuss with the Parliament and the Commission the Council’s possible forms of participation, naturally without delaying the coming into force of the agreement between the two institutions".