Register published on EU’s lobbying industry

A REGISTER for companies, interest groups, lawyers and non-governmental organisations involved in the EU’s €1 billion-a-year lobbying industry has been launched.

But it was quickly criticised by NGOs as being weak, especially since registration is voluntary for the estimated 15,000 lobbyists working full time in Brussels.

The register was defended by the Commissioner responsible for fighting fraud, Siim Kallas, who said they won the co-operation of the lobbying industry for the move.