Howto European Transparency Consultation

Commissioner Kallas started a consultation on European Lobbying transparency which ends 31. August. We explain you how to contribute.

Let's start

The consultation document (18 pages) - You should print it out. Infomaniacs also follow the links to background documents and read the 2002 minimum standards for consultations and of course the interim report of the ETI consultation process.

Data you need to provide

• Organisation

  • You should consider to register your NGO first. This is a non-mandatory NGO register of the EU-Commission. If you think NGO registers were a bad idea then just skip this step.

  • What the Commission wants to know about your organisation when you submit a contribution (simple cover letter info):
    • The interests you represent
    • How inclusive your representation is
    • Name and address of the organisation
    • Type of organisation (e.g. trade union, professional body, non-governmental organisation(NGO))
    • Level of representation (European, national, regional or local)
    • Stated objectives of the organisation
    • Membership of the organisation
• Citizen
  • You just provide your contact address and nationality
• You also should tell Commissioner Kallas whether you agree with publication of your contributions
  • For privacy reasons: say no
  • For transparency reasons: agree
  • It is your choice.

The following parts are to be answered with seperate documents (or you can choose just to answer section II etc.) and you should sent your response to

• European Commission Commissioner Kallas European Transparency Initiative 200 Rue de la Loi Berlaymont B - 1049 Brussels CAB-KALLAS-WEB-FEEDBACK (at) ec.europa.eu Fax: +32.2. 298.84.92

Questions I. Transparency and Interest Representation:

This part will underpin a debate on lobbying activities in the EU

• Do you agree that efforts should be made to bring greater transparency to lobbying?
• Do you agree that lobbyists who wish to be automatically alerted to consultations by the EU institutions should register and provide information, including on their objectives, financial situation and on the interests they represent? Do you agree that this information should be available to the general public? Who do you think should manage the register?
• Do you agree to consolidating the existing codes of conduct with a set of common minimum requirements? Who do you think should write the code?
• Do you agree that a new, inclusive external watchdog is needed to monitor compliance and that sanctions should be applied for any breach of the code?

Questions II. The Commission’s minimum standards for consultation:

This part will provide a structured framework for feedback on the application of the standards

• In your view, has the Commission applied the general principles and minimum standards for consultation in a satisfactory manner? You may refer to the individual standards (provided, for ease of reference, in Annex 2).
• Please give reasons for your reply and, where appropriate, provide examples.

Questions III.Publication of Data on Beneficiaries of EU Funds

This part will launch a debate on the disclosure of data about the recipients of various EU funds managed by the Commission in partnership with Member States, notably the Structural Funds and Common Agricultural Policy.

• Do you agree that it is desirable to introduce, at Community level, an obligation for Member States to make available information on beneficiaries of EU funds under shared management?
• If so, what information should be required at national level? What would be the best means to make this information available (degree of information required, period covered and preferred medium)?