15 April 2008 - Speaking at today’s Green Group Seminar on the scale of corporate lobbying in the European Parliament, South East MEP Dr Caroline Lucas called for much stricter rules to govern the activities of lobbyists.

At today’s seminar, which was held in the run-up to a parliamentary vote on new lobbying rules on 8 May, Dr Lucas said:

"Today’s rules for lobbying date back to a time when the only role of the European Parliament was to give opinions. We clearly need stricter rules now that Parliament has become a powerful legislator.

“It is an essential part of democracy that various stakeholders can approach decision makers, but in the current system money buys lobbying power. If you have the finances, you can employ lobbyists to meet MEPs one-to-one or invite them to dinners. Among professional lobbyists, the number of business representatives is disproportionate compared to citizens’ interests groups such as consumer or environmental organisations and trade unions.

“The lack of transparency in lobbying is a key ´democracy deficit´. There is currently no obligation for lobbying organisations to publish their funding and the identity of their clients. Everybody knows that lobbyists are often behind legislative amendments tabled by MEPs, yet it is impossible to fully trace the real sources.

“The Greens are driving for a mandatory register for all lobbyists starting from 2009 and a public blacklist of those who break the rules. We also call for full financial disclosure. Any proposals for amendments that lobbyists provide to MEPs should also be submitted to a public register. Only these measures will represent a real step forward towards greater transparency and public trust."

The call for stronger rules on lobbying comes just a few weeks after the Green Group wrote to the Parliament’s President Hans-Gert Pöttering, querying the activities of the European Business and Parliament Scheme (EBPS). Dr Lucas said:

"The President must shed light on the activities of the EBPS scheme to ensure it does not pursue any hidden lobbyist agenda.

“According to its statute, EBPS is only a parliamentary educational resource for Parliament members and staff and for the political groups. However, recent events have raised serious doubts about this organisation’s true agenda.”

“The Greens want to know why the International Association of Business and Parliament (IABP), which manages the EBPS programme, has been given an office in the European Parliament and Parliament e-mail addresses, giving the impression that it is an official European Parliament body.

“The fact that Hans-Gert Pöttering is patron of the EBPS cannot justify the provision of rent -free offices in the Parliament with costs of telecommunication and telephone paid by the Parliament. The Greens call upon the Parliament’s Presidency to clarify the situation without delay."

ENDS