ALTER-EU media coverage

Shining a full light on Brussels’s lobbies

Publication date: 
Sunday, February 19, 2017
Author: 
Vicky Cann
Media title: 
maltatoday

The Maltese presidency will soon start negotiating on behalf of the EU Council on a new lobby transparency register and it is time to get tough on lobbyists who wish to stay in the shadows.

Snapshot original article (pdf): 

Reform of EU lobbying, only counts direct lobby?

Publication date: 
Friday, November 18, 2016
Author: 
Angelone Francesco
Media title: 
informazione libera

The proposal submitted by the European Commission on the revision of the Transparency Register is arousing, predictably, a heated debate.

It appears that it circumscribes the lobbying to "interactions" with policy-makers and decision-makers and, therefore, should be considered too ambiguous and timid . 

HOW COULD EU LOBBYING BE REFORMED ?

Publication date: 
Thursday, November 17, 2016
Author: 
Anthony Chambers
Media title: 
aalep

" It is impossible  to make lobbying at any level of European politics entirely transparent due to the impracticality of encoding a definition of lobbying acceptable to all participants and the possible infringement of privacy for individuals consulting their elected representatives. However by amending existing legislation and through the adoption of new regulations the EU could make significant strides in improving transparency. Lobbyists can play an important part in the legislative process by providing relevant expertise and information which can help identify unconsidered consequences of draft legislation. However in a democracy, governments should nonetheless work to ensure transparency.

EU Politicians Slammed for Second Jobs, 'Revolving Doors', Lack of Ethics

Publication date: 
Thursday, November 10, 2016
Media title: 
sputnik news

In spite of the recent "revolving doors" scandal involving former EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, MEPs are still able to have second jobs, claiming that restrictions on their outside employment would be a "violation" of their fundamental rights, EU politicians have said.

Le code de bonne conduite européen ridiculisé par l’affaire Barroso

Publication date: 
Thursday, November 3, 2016
Author: 
Mathilde Régis
Media title: 
Le Lanceur

Le recrutement de José Manuel Barroso par une banque largement impliquée dans la crise grecque ne constitue pas une infraction pour le comité d’éthique de l’Union européenne. L’ex-président de la Commission peut, selon le code de “bonne conduite” des commissaires européens, faire pression et défendre la cause” de la banque d’investissement américaine Goldman Sachs auprès des membres de la Commission et de leur personnel”, dès lors que le délai de 18 mois inscrit dans ce code est respecté. Sur cette affaire, Jean-Claude Juncker, actuel président de la Commission, est attendu au tournant.

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