Transparency campaigners launch guide for MEPs on lobby contacts and ethics reform proposals

Madrid, 1 April 2015 – The Alliance for Lobby Transparency and Ethics Regulation (ALTER-EU), of which Access Info Europe is a Steering Committee member, has launched Navigating the lobby labyrinth: A guide to transparency and ethics for MEPs along with Ten policy recommendations for a strengthened MEP Code of Conduct.

Guide for MEPs

The guide is intended to help MEPs put into practice their commitment to transparency and fulfil their obligations to be receptive to public opinion, open to public scrutiny, and fully independent in order to defend the public interest.

The guide also offers practical advice for MEPs on how to navigate the Brussels bubble while maintaining their independence and integrity.

With respect to transparency around meetings with interest groups, the Guide recommends that MEPS promptly publish lists of meetings held and do not meet with lobbyists who refuse to be transparent.

Given that individual MEPs are currently not covered by the EU’s access to documents regulation, the Guide recommends that, in keeping with the spirit of the right to documents in the EU treaties, MEPs respond to requests for access to documents.

Ten Policy Recommendations

During a public debate held on 31 March 2015 in the European Parliament, where MEPs Nessa Childers, Richard Corbett and Sven Giegold all advocated strengthening ethics rules for MEPs, the ALTER-EU coalition presented Ten policy recommendations for a strengthened MEP Code of Conduct.

Key demands include a ban on MEPs holding side jobs with companies or groups that are involved in EU lobbying, as well as address the lack of transparency rules for European Parliament cross-party groups.