The European Commission’s proposed directive, part of the Defence of Democracy package, aims to establish common transparency standards for interest representation activities conducted on behalf of third countries within the internal market. The directive seeks to address concerns about “covert foreign interference” but faces criticism by CSOs. The European Civic Forum argue that the directive lacks clarity, potentially restricting civil participation, violating fundamental rights, and imposing undue burdens on organizations. Concerns include the unclear definition of “influence,” potential misinterpretation, and the risk of stigmatizing civil society. Critics also question the directive’s effectiveness in countering covert interference and recommend improvements to protect civil participation rights, distinguish lobbying activities, set minimum thresholds, and establish checks and balances for national authorities overseeing the register. Read more here.
Source: European Civic Forum