The European Commission has proposed mandatory national transparency registers for lobbying on behalf of third countries, aiming to counter foreign interference across EU democracies. This draft legislation, part of the 2023 ‘Defence of Democracy’ package, would require all Member States to establish harmonised registers and empower authorities to investigate and impose sanctions for non-compliance. In response to scandals like ‘Qatargate,’ the proposal has received a divided reception in the European Parliament. While the move is supported by centrist forces, concerns have been raised about its unintended impact on legitimate CSOs. Key points of debate currently revolve around harmonisation, the scope of the law (whether to include all lobbying), and the severity of sanctions. Read more here.
Source: Jacques Delors Centre