EU parliament approves mandatory registry of lobbyists News
EU parliament approves mandatory registry of lobbyists

[JURIST] The European Parliament [official website] Thursday approved [press release] a report [PDF text] calling for a mandatory registry of lobbyists seeking access to EU lawmakers [CorpWatch backgrounder]. The measure was passed 547-24, with 59 abstaining. The Parliament also supported a "one-stop-shop" proposal, which would allow lobbyists to register once to gain access to Parliament, the European Commission, and the European Council [official websites], but that vote was only binding for the Parliament.

The three EU institutions intend to establish a common list of lobbyists, which the EU Parliament hopes to be ready in time for European elections in 2009. The Parliament currently maintains a voluntary registry. AP has more.

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