Download - Introduction au lobbying européen
IF YOU DON’T CARE ABOUT
EUROPE,EUROPE TAKES CARE OF YOU
Jacques Folon Partner EDGE CONSULTING
Chargé de cours ICHEC
Maître de conférences Université de Liège
Visiting Professor Université de Metz
Visiting Professor Sup de Co Rennes
Visiting Professor ISFSC, HE F.Ferrer
Basics of EU Lobbying
The keynote presentation is ready for you
WWW.FOLON.COM
(see cours)
Table of Content1. What is lobbying? 2. The EU institutions 3. The EU Legislative process 4. Why lobbying? 5. Who are the lobbyists? 6. How to lobby? 7. What do the lobbied think ? 8. The lobbyist’s code of conduct 9. There are still some open questions
What do you think is a lobbyist?
What is lobbying ?! Latin „lobia“ => lobby, anteroom ! Origin lies in England in the 17th century:
approaching members of Parliament in the anteroom of the English House of Commons
! „Practice of advocacy with the goal of influencing the legislative of executive bodies by promoting a point of view that is conducive to an individual's or organization's goals”
! Negative connotation, but political reality
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Country Rules Governing Lobbyists Australia As of 1 July 2008 there are national rules in place and a register. Originally formulated
and implemented in the 1980s, lobbying rules were then abandoned in 1996. Western Australia (2006), New South Wales (2009), Queensland (2009)
Austria No statutory rulesBelgium No statutory rulesBosnia and Herzegovina
No statutory rules
Canada Federal Level: Rules and Register since the Lobbyists Registration Act of 1989, amended in 1995, 2003 and 2008. Provincial Level: Lobbying regulations exist in Ontario (1998); Nova Scotia (2001); British Columbia (2001); Quebec (2002); Newfoundland (2005) and Alberta (2007).
Coratia No statutory rulesDenmark No statutory rules Estonia No statutory rulesEU: European Parliament
Regulated by Rule 9(2) of the Rules of Procedure, 1996.
EU: Commission
Before 2008, ‘self-regulation’ was the model adopted by the Commission. However, as of 23 June, 2008, the Commission opened a voluntary register of interest representations.
EU: Council No statutory rules
France Indicated its aim to introduce a voluntary parliamentary run register – July 2009.Germany Regulation and registration through rules of procedure of the Bundestag in 1951; later
amended in 1975 and 1980.
Source: Regulating Lobbying: Promoting Transparency or Straw Man, Presented by: Professor Gary Murphy, Dublin City University TCD, 12th March 2010
Hungary Regulation of Lobbying Activity since 2006.Iceland No statutory rulesJapan No statutory rulesLatvia No statutory rulesLithuania Regulation since 2001. Luxembourg No statutory rulesIndia No statutory rulesIreland No statutory rulesItaly No statutory rules at national level. Nevertheless, regional schemes have been
introduced in the Consiglio regionale della Toscana in 2002 and Regione in 2004.
Japan No statutory rulesMalta No statutory rulesNetherland No statutory rulesNew Zealand No statutory rulesNorway No statutory rulesPoland Regulations since 2005.Portugal No statutory rulesRep Korea No statutory rulesRomania No statutory rules
Source: Regulating Lobbying: Promoting Transparency or Straw Man, Presented by: Professor Gary Murphy, Dublin City University TCD, 12th March 2010
Serbia No statutory rulesSlovakia No statutory rulesSlovenia No statutory rulesSpain No statutory rulesSweden No statutory rulesTaiwan Lobbying Act passed on 8/8/2007, came into force on 8/8/2008. Turkey No statutory rulesU n i t e d Kingdom
No statutory rules in either Commons or House of Lords.
United States Federal Level: The Lobbying Act 1946, amended in 1995 and 2007. State Level: All states have lobbying regulations.
Source: Regulating Lobbying: Promoting Transparency or Straw Man, Presented by: Professor Gary Murphy, Dublin City University TCD, 12th March 2010
Table of Content1. What is lobbying? 2. The EU institutions • The EU Legislative process • Why lobbying? • Who are the lobbyists? • How to lobby? • What do the lobbied think ? • The lobbyist’s code of conduct • There are still some open questions
Europe or Europe(s)
Many institutions
• Europe in OECD, WTO,… • Schengen • Economic and social comittee • Committee of the regions • European Investment bank • European environment Agency • Europol • Group of 27 • Etc…
EUROPEAN COMMISSION proposes, manages, regulates
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT comments, amends, decides
COUNCIL OF MINISTERS negotiates, decides
MEMBER STATE implements
EUROPEAN COURT adjudicates
ECONOMIC AND
SOCIAL COMMITTEE
represents economic and social groups
COMMITTEE OF
THE REGIONS
represents local governments
EUROPEAN COUNCIL sets the agenda
The EU Institutions
Everything is on the Web
Reminder…
Eight long years
•Laeken declaration 15 December 2001.
•Convention with 3 objectives
• Clarification of competences • Simplification • more democracy and transparency
• 24/10/2004 constitution signed but … •Referendum in the Netherlands and France •Reflexion period … •Minimal treaty to be signed before the end of 2007
EU Summit Lisbon 13/12/2007 Then two years of ratification including
Ireland and Polish and Tchek hesitations
1/12/2009 it is done !
One bloc: the European Union
3 treaties Lisbon Maastricht Rome
The EU is (finally) a legal entity
Lisbon Treaty is 152 pages of technical jargon modifying the Rome and Maastricht treaty 13 protocoles 59 declarations
Remember it was supposed to be simple !!!!!
What is new?
O n e p r e s i d e n t o f t h e European council (and not the president of Europe!)
A VP of the Commission high representative for external affairs and security
More competences for the EU Parliament
More codecision
Sort of referendum (one million eu citizens)
Commission
one commissioner by member state
More powers for the p r e s i d e n t o f t h e commission (by instance t o f i r e o n e commissioner).
Table of Content1. What is lobbying? 2. The EU institutions 3. The EU Legislative process • Why lobbying? • Who are the lobbyists? • How to lobby? • What do the lobbied think ? • The lobbyist’s code of conduct • There are still some open questions
The legal process
The European Parliament
"Direct election
"Part of the codecision "Proposals are discussed in commission then in plenary "For each text a rapporteur within the committee "« shadow rapporteur » for each political group "Rapporteur and « shadow rapporteurs » from other committee
"A « coordinator » in each political group
Plenary Room Strasbourg
EU Parliament by political group
Men - women
Committees
•Passing European laws
•In many areas, such as consumer protection and the environment, Parliament works together with the Council (representing national governments) to decide on the content of EU laws and officially adopt them. This process is called "Ordinary legislative procedure" (ex "co-decision"). •Under the Lisbon Treaty, the range of policies covered by the new ordinary legislative procedure has increased, giving Parliament more power to influence the content of laws in areas including agriculture, energy policy, immigration and EU funds. •Parliament must also give its permission for other important decisions, such as allowing new countries to join the EU.
•Democratic supervision
Parliament exercises influence over other European institutions in several ways. When a new Commission is appointed, its 28 members – one from each EU country – cannot take up office until Parliament has approved them. If the Members of the European Parliament disapprove of a nominee, they can reject the entire slate. Parliament can also call on the Commission to resign during its period in office. This is called a 'motion of censure’. Parliament keeps check on the Commission by examining reports it produces and by questioning Commissioners. MEPs look at petitions from citizens and sets up committees of inquiry.
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•Supervising the budget
•Parliament adopts the EU’s annual budget with the Council of the European Union. •Parliament has a committee that monitors how the budget is spent, and every year passes judgement on the Commission's handling of the previous year's budget.
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Code of Conduct for MEP• Financial declaration
• MEPs will have to state, publicly and on line, any professional activity performed during the three years before their election, as well as any membership of any board of companies, NGOs and/or associations held during that period or currently.
• Any remunerated activity undertaken during the term of office, including writing, lecturing and providing expert advice, even if occasional, will have to be made public if it earns more than €5,000 a year.
• Financial support of any nature and any financial interest that may cause a conflict of interests will also have to be disclosed. Any change to the declaration must be notified within 30 days and in the event of failure, the member will no longer be eligible to hold offices within Parliament.
• Sanctions
• Should the code be breached, and upon a decision by the President after having consulted an advisory committee, a member may be sanctioned with a reprimand, a forfeiture of the daily allowance from two up to ten days, temporary suspension from Parliament's activities (not including the right to vote) for a maximum of 10 days, or the loss of the role of rapporteur or other elected offices within Parliament (for the latter two sanctions, a confirmatory decision by the President is needed). Any such sanctions will be published on Parliament's web site.
• Former MEPs
• Former MEPs who subsequently work as lobbyists in a field directly linked to EU affairs will not benefit from the facilities otherwise provided, during the time of such activity.
• Advisory committee
• An advisory committee will provide guidance to MEPs and advise the President on what steps to take in the event of alleged breaches of the code.
• Next steps
• Parliament's Bureau will lay down measures for implementing the code of conduct, and in particular for the introduction of a monitoring procedure.
• The code of conduct was approved with 619 votes in favour, 2 against and 6 abstentions. The new rules enter into force on 1 January 2012.
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Commission
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• Initiative • Executive • Safegard of the treaty • Represent the Union • Competition authorithy
Source: touteleurope.eu
Commission’s different documents
DG/Département Juridique
Action plan initiatives to come within 12 to 60 months
Green book open document subject to discussions
White book document with a claer goal subject to discussion
Communication ideas subject to discussions
Directive Must be transformed in national law
Reglement immediately applicable in the member states
Development of a proposalDraft Proposal from DG Responsible
Inter-service consultation: Other DGs consulted
Legal Services Examination
Heads of Cabinet
Commission College: Adoption of the Proposal
Council
The basics…• Consists of Member State representatives
• Meets in different formations according to policy areas (e.g.: Environment, Agriculture, Health)
• Main decision-making body of EU – Co-legislator with Parliament – Concludes international agreements on behalf of EU
• Decision making: – Decisions by qualified majority with system of weighted votes – Shifting alliances – Slowing down with 27 Member States
Source: Your Guide to EU Lobbying & Social Media Caroline De Cock
Source: Your Guide to EU Lobbying & Social Media Caroline De Cock
Source: Your Guide to EU Lobbying & Social Media Caroline De Cock
• Rotating Presidency every six months
• New role for council president ?
• In practice, depending on the Member State each Presidency is different and quality varies
EU Council Presidency
The Council: internal structure
Council of Ministers
COREPER
Council Working Groups
Presidency: manages process
and work-flow
Input from Member States
Council Working Groups
- Member State Officials- Attachés
28 Delegationscomposed of
Tour de table= 135 minutes
The « compromis à la belge » system • The H word: Harmonisation. • What does it means • Where does it start?
– Your company – Your region compromise 1 – Your country compromise 2 – Your national federation compromise 3 – The eu organization compromise 4 – The co-decision compromise 5 – The various lobbies compromise 6 – The final text compromise 7 – The implementation compromise 8 – That’s harmonization folks…
EU TRIANGLE
Counsel
Member states
Commission
EU Voice
Parliament
Citizen’s voices
Relations entre institutions
PARLEMENT EUROPEEN
[785 députés]
COMMISSION EUROPEENNE
[27 commissaires]
COUR DE JUSTICE
Respect du droit communautaire
Proposition Exécution
CONSEIL EUROPEEN [Chefs d ’Etat et de gouvernement + le Président de la Commission]
Impulsion politique
COMITE ECONOMIQUE
ET SOCIALCOMITE
DES REGIONSCOUR DES COMPTES
Consultation
Contrôle des Finances communautaires
CONSEIL DES MINISTRES [27 pays]
Contrôle
Vote
OCT 01
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT (EP)
COUNCIL OF MINISTERS (EU MEMBER STATES)
COMMISSION PROPOSAL
EP PLENARY VOTE (1st READING)
COUNCIL ADOPTS COMMON POSITION (1st STAGE
AGREEMENT)
OCT 02
NOV 03
COUNCIL AGREES AND ADOPTS
COREPER REJECTS SOME EP AMENDMENTS
EP AND COUNCIL MEET TO NEGOTIATE
COMPROMISE TEXT (CONCILIATION PROCEDURE)
DIRECTIVE IS ADOPTED REJECTION
JAN 04
OCT 02
MEMBER STATES IMPLEMENT DIRECTIVE INTO NATIONAL LEGISLATION / REQUIREMENTS OF REGULATION BECOME APPLICABLE
EP COMMITTEES DISCUSS DRAFT REPORT/OPINIONS
OCT 03
DEC 03
COMMISSION AMENDED PROPOSAL
FEB-APRIL 04
MAY 02
EP ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE VOTE
EP ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
EP PLENARY VOTE (2nd READING)
EP ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE VOTE
EC
EP
EP
EP
EP
EP
EP
EP
EP ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE RECEIVES COMMON POSITION (2nd
READING)
JAN 04
EP
No later than 18 months after adoption
CL FEB 04
OCT 01EP
EC: Commission CL: Council EP: Parliament
RAPPORTEURS TABLE DRAFT REPORTS/OPINIONS
TRIALOGUE (EP, COM, COUNCIL)
RAPPORTEURS APPOINTED
NOV 03CL
DEADLINE FOR AMENDMENTS
CL JUNE 03
HEALTH WORKING GROUP MEETINGS
JAN 04EC
COUNCIL HEALTH WORKING GROUP
INTENSE NEGOTIATIONS
COMMISSION AMENDED PROPOSAL
Co-Decision is now the norm
Be at the right place at the right time
Stages Addressee for Lobbying
Commission proposal
Council (Working Group, Coreper, Council of Ministers) - First Reading
European Parliament
First reading
Common Position of the Council
European Parliament – second reading
poss. Conciliation procedure–3rd reading
Adoption of legislation
ConsultationI. Working/Strategy Paper
II. Green/White Book, CommunicationIII. Online Consultation
IV. HearingAttending hearing
European Commission
Addressing author of documents
Responsible National Ministry
MEP’s in responsible committee, Rapporteur
(Commission)
Attending hearing(poss. Hearing of experts)
Responsible National Ministry
MEP’s in responsible committee
Rapporteur
Rapporteur
Responsible National Ministry
Table of Content1. What is lobbying? 2. The EU institutions 3. The EU Legislative process 4. Why lobbying? • Who are the lobbyists? • How to lobby? • What do the lobbied think ? • The lobbyist’s code of conduct • There are still some open questions
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Brussels the place to be !80% of national law comes from EU Necessary to be there in order to anticipate to be heard on time
Commission
Lobbyist
Committees (national experts and European Commission)
Committees of the european Parliament
Permanent Representation
to the European inst.
Council‘s Working Groups
European Parliament
European Economic and Social Committee
COREPER
Lobbyist
Council
European Court of Justice
Member States
EU-citizens
Lobbyist
Opinion Opinion
Proposal
OpinionOpinion
Directive
Regulation
EU – Legislative proces and the lobbyists
Lobbyist
Brussels the place to be: everybody is there, so...
Commission Parlement Conseil des Ministres
Services financiers
FBE, EACB, ESBG, GEBC, EUROFINAS,
EFAMA, CEA, …)
Think tanks (Eurofi, Bruegel,
CEPS, EPC, …)
Consultants en Affaires UE &
cabinets d’avocat
Medias & journaux
Syndicats d’industrie locaux
(MEDEF, FBF, AFG, …)
Secteur privé (Crédit Agricole S.A., Daimler Chrysler, …)
Les régions & Collectivités
locales
ONG
Organisations Internationales
(NUs, Banque Mondiale, …)
Chambres de commerce et d’industrie
Groupes de Consommateurs
(BEUC)
Représentations des
Etats membres
Syndicats de branche d’activité
(Business Europe, EBIC, ACEA, CEFIC, …)
Syndicats de Travailleurs
(ETUC, …)
Veille règlementaire européenne
Tapez pour
saisir le texteD
irec
tion
ju
ridi
que Tapez
pour saisir le
texteAff
aire
s Eu
ropé
enne
s
Tapez pour
saisir le texteD
irec
tion
st
raté
giqu
esTapez pour
saisir le texteD
irec
tion
Ec
onom
ique
Tapez pour
saisir le texteLi
gnes
de
mét
ier
Syndicats d’industrie (FBE, FBF,
EACB, GEBC, Eurofinas, …)
Think tank
Consultants spécialisés Affaires UE Medias &
journauxInstitutions
Européennes
Correspondant à Bruxelles
Table of Content1. What is lobbying? 2. The EU institutions 3. The EU Legislative process 4. Why lobbying? 5. Who are the lobbyists? • How to lobby? • What do the lobbied think ? • The lobbyist’s code of conduct • There are still some open questions
78http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgA5gL_peNI
Lobbies in Brussels
! approx. 5000 organisations representing various interests
! approx. 30.000 lobbyists ! approx. 30.000 commission officials (40% of them are
translators and interpreters)
# Almost 1 lobbyist per commission official
What are interest groups?
• An interest group (also called an advocacy group, lobbying group, pressure group (UK), or special interest) is a group, however loosely or tightly organized, doing advocacy: those determined to encourage or prevent changes in public policy without trying to be elected.
Lobbying• Lobbying is an attempt to
influence policy-makers to adopt a course of action advantageous, or not detrimental, to a particular group or interest.
• A lobbyist is a person employed by a group, firm, region or country to carry
Theoretical approaches• Negative ideas on power of interest groups.
• Some authors find the existence of the interest groups as disturbing democratic process.
• For these Authors, powerful groups dominate politics and impose their own interests at the extend of common interests.
• Different from political parties, they are not aspiring for formal political power both in the government or in the parliament.
• As such they are not subject to democratic control (via election). They participate in the political process through lobbies with representatives and government officials.
• Pluralism.
• The main character of a democratic system is competition of interest.
• Common interests are not what the state defines, but a result of political bargaining in the society, in the diversity of interests represented by various autonomous interest groups.
Theoretical approaches
Theoretical approaches• Corporatism. • This theory assumes a close association between state and
interest groups.
• Interest groups within this system have special characteristics: officially recognised, monopoly of representation within particular sectors.
• It is political participation of different style or, more appropriately, part of a regulation system rather than competitive participation in the political process.
• It does not reflect the influence of the society’s interests. Rather it reflects the problems of conflicts of society’s interests
Main types of IG’s in the EU• Private interests, pursuing specific economic
goals – 1300 (plus 270 law firms and consultancies)
• Public interest bodies, pursuing non-economic aims – 300 (plus 40 think tanks)
• Governmental actors, representing different levels of government but not forming part of the national administration of member states – 360 (embassies, regional bureaus, cities)
Private economic interests• Most represented
– 150 groups – chemical industry – 140 groups – food and drink sector – 88 groups – agriculture and fisheries
• Best represented – Pan-european groups: – Business Europe – European Trades Union Confederation (ETUC) – Committee of Agricultural Organizations (COPA) – They also participate in the Economic and Social
Committee of the European Commission
Private economic interests
• The biggest enterprises are not only members of different interest groups but have their own lobbying offices in Brussels (Philips, IBM, Philip Morris)
• 320 major European enterprises have full-time EU public affairs directors
• Chambers of commerce don’t come only from EU countries but also from the US, Turkey, Norway, Morocco, or the Philippines
Public interest bodies
• Among the most active are environmental, public health, human rights, animal welfare NGOs
• Also includes think tanks • Many smaller organizations actually get
funding by the EU
Governmental Actors
• 167 Non-EU country embassies – Mostly try to influence EUs trade and aid
policies
• Delegations from local authorities or regional bodies: German Länder, Scottish Executive, … – some of the delegations are cross-border
enterprises
Table of Content1. What is lobbying? 2. The EU institutions 3. The EU Legislative process 4. Why lobbying? 5. Who are the lobbyists? 6. How to lobby? 7. What do the lobbied think ? 8. The lobbyist’s code of conduct 9. There are still some open questions
Council Adoption
Commission (amendments)
Parliament (2nd reading)
Council = Common Position
COREPER
Council Working Group
Commission proposal
24/30 months
Commiss
ion in
volve
ment th
roug
hout
Conciliation EP/Council
Commission (revision)
Parliament (1st reading)Council Working Group
The Lobbying pyramid
How to Lobby the council
• Influencing the Council can be done at two levels: – National governments and ministries – Permanent representations in Brussels
• Important to build support around an issue in enough member states so as to ensure a majority or a blocking minority
• Lobbying the government is key in order to influence the Council’s position
How to lobby the commission• The Commission is a technocratic body, and officials respond to data and
arguments
• However, when lobbying you need to be aware of different DGs’ political priorities, and those of the Commissioner
• One DG is responsible for a dossier, but agreement is reached by the Commission as a whole and different DGs interact throughout out the adoption process of a proposal
• Within the same DG, it is important to work your way up the Commission’s structure: from the policy officer to the head of unit, to the Director and finally the Cabinet.
• The right moment to influence the Commission is when they are in process of drafting the proposal
• During the adoption of legislation the Commission is present at each stage of the discussions and a key player, do not underestimate its influence
Checklist of key points • Know your business objective • Understand the system: its
politics and processes • Establish the right lobbying
objective • Obtain good intelligence • Review and revise strategy in
real-time • It is a process – start early and
follow through • Consistency and co-ordination
are keywords • Contact is key – with politicians,
officials, others • Build relationships
Influencing the Enlarged EU:Conclusions for Business
• Start early in the process • Mobilise support • Target the right actors • Build and maintain relationships • Increase focus on the EP • Watch out for a “multi-speed Europe”
The Burson-Marsteller Campaign Model
Checklist: effective EU-Lobbying• Do I have all and up-to-date information?
• What is my objective? Clear, precise and “European” arguments, anticipate counter-arguments
• Who is my target group? Technical or political level?
• Language?
• How do I communicate my position? Conversation, position paper, public consultation, media?
• When is the best time? In time before and during formal decision process.
Table of Content1. What is lobbying? 2. The EU institutions 3. The EU Legislative process 4. Why lobbying? 5. Who are the lobbyists? 6. How to lobby? 7. What do the lobbied think ? • The lobbyist’s code of conduct • There are still some open questions
http://fr.slideshare.net/MariaCarvalhosa/lobbying-survey-report?qid=a087a88a-669e-43a9-b5f4-6bb027a205dc&v=default&b=&from_search=9
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In Conclusion:Lobbying the EU System
• Integral to EU legislative & regulatory system
• Welcome if conducted in an ethical manner
• Effective if intelligent and professional
• Influence a function of interests represented
FINAL THOUGHTS…
• « Everybody is a foreigner in Brussels »
• Effectiveness = strategy and performance
• « Networking » is the differentiating factor
• “Trust” is the essential personal asset
Table of Content1. What is lobbying? 2. The EU institutions 3. The EU Legislative process 4. Why lobbying? 5. Who are the lobbyists? 6. How to lobby? 7. What do the lobbied think ? 8. The lobbyist’s code of conduct • There are still some open questions
Code of conduct
Interest representatives are expected to apply the principles of openness, transparency, honesty and integrity, as legitimately expected of them by citizens and other
stakeholders.Similarly, Members of the Commission and staff are bound by strict rules ensuring their impartiality. The
relevant provisions are public and contained in the Treaty establishing the European Community, the Staff Regulations,
the Code of Conduct for Commissioners and the Code of good administrative behaviour.
RULES : Interest representatives shall always:
1.identify themselves by name and by the entity(ies) they work for or represent; 2.not misrepresent themselves as to the effect of registration to mislead third parties and/or EU staff; 3.declare the interests, and where applicable the clients or the members, which they represent; 4.ensure that, to the best of their knowledge, information which they provide is unbiased, complete, up-to-date and not misleading; 5.not obtain or try to obtain information, or any decision, dishonestly; 6.not induce EU staff to contravene rules and standards of behaviour applicable to them; 7.if employing former EU staff, respect their obligation to abide by the rules and confidentiality requirements which apply to them.
Table of Content1. What is lobbying? 2. The EU institutions 3. The EU Legislative process 4. Why lobbying? 5. Who are the lobbyists? 6. How to lobby? 7. What do the lobbied think ? 8. The lobbyist’s code of conduct 9. There are still some open questions
Problems of Lobbying in the EU
• Distorted information is provided to the EU institutions about the possible economic, social or environmental impact of draft legislative proposals.
• Modern communication technologies (internet and e-mail) make it easy to organise mass campaigns for or against a given cause, without the EU institutions being able to verify to what extent these campaigns reflect the genuine concerns of EU citizens.
The legitimacy of interest representation by European NGOs is sometimes questioned because some NGOs seem to rely on financial support from the EU budget as well as on political and financial support from their members.
• By contrast, according to many NGOs, there is no level playing field in lobbying because the corporate sector is able to invest more financial resources in lobbying.
• In general terms, there is criticism about the lack of information about the lobbyists active at EU level, including the financial resources which they have at their disposal.
And the war is clearly not finished
http://www.alter-eu.org/
Future regulations ?
• Should not be a matter of voluntarily complying like current EU Commission
• Regulations - codified, formal rules passed by government and written in law that is enforced and must be respected.
• Noncompliance results in penalisation, fines or jail.
Source: Regulating Lobbying: Promoting Transparency or Straw Man, Presented by: Professor Gary Murphy, Dublin City University TCD, 12th March 2010
Examples of such rules: • Register with the state before contact can be made with
public officials, • Indicate which public actors the lobbyist intends to influence, • Provide state with individual/employer spending reports • Have a publicly available list with lobbyists details available
for citizens to scrutinize, • Former legislators cannot immediately become lobbyists
once they have left public office (‘cooling off’ period).
Theoretical justification is based on ensuring transparency and accountability.
Source: Regulating Lobbying: Promoting Transparency or Straw Man, Presented by: Professor Gary Murphy, Dublin City University TCD, 12th March 2010
• Germany, the EP, the EU Commission, and Poland.
Characteristics: • Individual registration, but little details given • Does not recognize executive branch lobbyists. • No rules on individual spending disclosure. • Weak system for on-line registration • Lobbyists lists are available to the public, but not all details collected/
given • No Cooling-Off period – exception Poland and EU Commission.
Lowly Regulated Systems
Source: Regulating Lobbying: Promoting Transparency or Straw Man, Presented by: Professor Gary Murphy, Dublin City University TCD, 12th March 2010
• All Canadian jurisdictions, several US states, Lithuania, Hungary, all Australian jurisdictions and Taiwan.
Characteristics: • Individual registration more detailed • Recognizes executive branch lobbyists - exception Hungary • Some regulations on individual spending disclosures - exception
Australia federal • On-line registration (Ontario very efficient ) • Public access to frequently updated lobbying register • State agency conducts mandatory reviews/audits • Cooling off period before former legislators can register as lobbyists -
exception Hungary.
Medium Regulated Systems
Source: Regulating Lobbying: Promoting Transparency or Straw Man, Presented by: Professor Gary Murphy, Dublin City University TCD, 12th March 2010
• America federal and states.
Characteristics: • Rigorous rules on individual registration • Recognizes executive branch lobbyists • Strong regulations on individual spending disclosure • Strong regulations on employer spending disclosure • On-line registration • Public access to frequently updated lobbying register • State agency conducts mandatory reviews/audits – with statutory
penalties for late/incomplete filing of registration form. • Cooling off period before former legislators can register as lobbyists
Highly Regulated Systems
Source: Regulating Lobbying: Promoting Transparency or Straw Man, Presented by: Professor Gary Murphy, Dublin City University TCD, 12th March 2010
Lowly Regulated Systems
Medium Regulated Systems
Highly Regulated Systems
Registration regulations
R u l e s o n i n d i v i d u a l registration, but few details required
R u l e s o n i n d i v i d u a l registration, more details required
R u l e s o n i n d i v i d u a l registration are extremely rigorous
Targets of Lobbyists Defined
Only member s o f t he legislature and staff
Members of the legislature and staff; executive and staff; agency heads and public servants/officers
Members of the legislature and staff; executive and staff; agency heads and public servants/officers
Spending disclosure
No rules on individual spending disclosure, or e m p l o y e r s p e n d i n g disclosure
S o m e r e g u l a t i o n s o n i n d i v i d u a l s p e n d i n g d i s c l o s u r e ; n o n e o n e m p l o y e r s p e n d i n g disclosure
T i g h t r e g u l a t i o n s o n i n d i v i d u a l s p e n d i n g disclosure, and employer spending disclosure
Electronic filing Weak on-line registration and paperwork required
Robust system for on-line registration, no paperwork necessary
Robust system for on-line registration, no paperwork necessary
Public access List of lobbyists available, but not detailed, or updated frequently
List of lobbyists available, de t a i l ed , and upda t ed frequently
List of lobbyists and their s p e n d i n g d i s c l o s u r e s available, detailed, and updated frequently
Enforcement L i t t l e e n f o r c e m e n t capabilities invested in state agency
In theory state agency possesses enforcement c a p a b i l i t i e s , t h o u g h infrequently used
State agency can, and does, conduct mandatory reviews /audits
Revolving door provision
No cooling off period before former legis la tors can register as lobbyists
There is a cooling off period before former legislators can register as lobbyists
There is a cooling off period before former legislators can register as lobbyists
So lobbying will continue to exist…
And do not imagine it’s not there
Jacques Folon + 32 475 98 21 15
QUESTIONS ?
Sources and references• EU commission web site http://europa.eu/index_fr.htm
• Burson marsteller http://www.burson-marsteller.com/default.aspx
• http://www.euractiv.com/fr/
• http://www.lobbying-europe.com/ • Source: Regulating Lobbying: Promoting Transparency or Straw Man,
Presented by: Professor Gary Murphy, Dublin City University TCD, 12th March 2010
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