Press release from Alter-EU
read press release online: 
http://media.corporateeurope.org/civicrm/mailing/view?reset=1&id=280
 

Brussels, 31/05/2016: 

LAW FIRMS IGNORE VOLUNTARY EU LOBBY REGISTER

Too many law firms in Brussels are absent from the EU lobby transparency
register while clearly running EU lobbying services, shows an analysis [1]
by ALTER-EU (the Alliance for Lobbying Transparency and Ethics
Regulation).[2] Many of the nine law firms highlighted originate in the
United States, where they are registered in the compulsory US lobby
register. The boycott of the voluntary EU lobby register is further
evidence to back ALTER-EU's demand that Commission President Juncker should
introduce a legally-binding register. 

The analysis _"Lobbying __l__aw firms - unfinished __b__usiness"_ is
published as the Commission's three month consultation on a "mandatory
transparency register" comes to an end.[3] However, so far the Commission's
proposal for a mandatory lobby register would be mandatory in name only,
and not backed by the law. 

"The EU Commission must acknowledge that there will always be some
lobbyists who will seek to take advantage of voluntary lobby registration
and not bother to sign up", says Nina Katzemich from LobbyControl, who
wrote the analysis for ALTER-EU. "Our analysis shows nine cases of law
firms, many of whom promote their EU lobby operations on their website, but
who have not signed up. We believe that these nine are just the tip of the
iceberg." 

The nine examples also illustrate that law firms in Brussels can be
powerful lobbyists. Because they understand the technical details of
upcoming directives, on behalf of fee-paying clients, they can discuss them
with officials or draft amendments for EU parliamentarians. One law firm,
for example, boasts about being a "leader in helping companies, industry
associations and governments navigate and shape EU rules" on its website.
Several of the highlighted law firms actively support the Transatlantic
Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), no doubt recognising the profit
opportunities likely to come from the proposed, but controversial,
investment arbitration system.[4] 

"In the US, lawmakers finally opted for a legally-binding lobby register
because law firms continued to refuse to sign up under the voluntary
model", Nina Katzemich explains. "We are very sceptical that the Commission
can tackle this problem in Brussels without a legally-binding system. A
register which is mandatory in name only will simply not do the trick." 

Also the EU Ombudsman in a press release yesterday stated that law firms
that lobby must declare their clients and that the Register should be more
firmly grounded in legislation and include the possibility to impose
financial sanctions on organisations in the future.[5] 
-------------------------

NOTES FOR EDITORS

1. _"__L__obbying law firms - unfinished busines__s__"_ is available here:
http://media.corporateeurope.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=424&qid=115007
 [1] 

2. ALTER-EU is a coalition of about 200 civil society groups, trade unions,
academics and public affairs firms campaigning against the increasing
influence exerted by corporate lobbyists on the political agenda in Europe.
Find out more at: www.alter-eu.org [2] 

3. The Commission's consultation can be found here:
http://media.corporateeurope.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=426&qid=115007
[3] and ALTER-EU's response is available here:
http://media.corporateeurope.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=427&qid=115007
[4] 

4. An NGO response to the Commission's investment arbitration proposal in
TTIP, can be found here:
http://media.corporateeurope.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=428&qid=115007
 [5] 

5. European Ombudsman press release:
http://media.corporateeurope.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=429&qid=115007
[6]              

31 MAY 2015

CONTACT

NINA KATZEMICH, LobbyControl
 email: nina.katzem...@lobbycontrol.de
 tel: +49-(0)179-5093022 

ALTER-EU
 Rue d'Edimbourg 26
 Brussels Belgium 
 www.alter-eu.org [2] 

THE ALLIANCE FOR LOBBYING TRANSPARENCY AND ETHICS REGULATION (ALTER-EU) IS
A COALITION OF ABOUT 200 CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS AND TRADE UNIONS

 

Links:
------
[1] 
http://media.corporateeurope.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=424&qid=115007
[2] 
http://media.corporateeurope.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=425&qid=115007
[3] 
http://media.corporateeurope.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=426&qid=115007
[4] 
http://media.corporateeurope.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=427&qid=115007
[5] 
http://media.corporateeurope.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=428&qid=115007
[6] 
http://media.corporateeurope.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=429&qid=115007

Alter-EU 

Rue d'Edimbourg 26, 1050 Brussels, BELGIUM

Tel: +32-2-8931062 Mob: +32-497-509871 

E-mail: i...@alter-eu.org
www.alter-eu.org 

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