The Internal Market (IMCO) Committee has voted on the proposed Foreign Interest Representation Directive, which aims for transparency in lobbying by non-EU countries. Civil Society Europe (CSE) has cautiously welcomed the outcome, noting that the draft included improvements, such as strengthened protections for academic and media freedom. However, for CSOs, key issues remain. CSE warned that the Directive could still be misused once implemented, posing risks to civil society due to vague registration requirements, potential stigmatization of foreign actors, and unnecessary administrative burdens. The Directive also risks being ineffective at tackling genuine foreign interference. Read more here.
Source: CSE
