LOBBYING LANDSCAPE IN ITALY

Lobbying, defined as the attempt by organised groups or their representatives to influence public decisions is both omnipresent and opaque in Italy. Everybody knows that lobbying is happening. Yet it is very difficult to say who is lobbying whom, through which means and to what end. The extent of risky lobbying and undue influence on public decision-making in Italy is alarming

Although nearly 50 bills on lobbying have been drafted in Italy since 1948, no law regulating lobbying has been passed. In the absence of regulation, codes of conduct for lobbyists and decision-makers, or even a register of lobbyists, the phenomenon takes place informally and behind closed doors undermining democratic decision-making in the country as well as public trust.

The lack of transparency around how decisions are made and who influences the decision-making process has led to a large share of the public equating “lobbying” with “corruption” and the profession of lobbying tends to be negatively associated with powerful and wealthy actors, such as from the pharmaceutical, banking or financial sectors, attempting to secure political power.

The media has not helped in building a more positive image since lobbyists are often compared to wheeler-dealers or freemasons. On top of this, the topic of lobbying is mostly featured in scandal-related articles.

Possible Remedy

The adoption of rules to regulate the activity of lobbying is among the Italian government's priorities, and Transparency International Italy strongly supports the introduction of laws or regulations in this regard. 

1. The establishment by the government of a public register of lobbyists, guaranteed by an authority super partes, such as the National Anti-corruption Authority, the Presidency of the Council or the National School of Administration. The registry should be mandatory and contain the requirements of transparency and accountability.
2. The opening to the public of the legislative process, especially in the early stages of the legislative process and in the crucial phase when legislative proposals pass in Committees: two main phases which currently are not public.
3. The obligation for Members of Parliament to make public the details of their meetings with lobbyists and interest groups, in addition to more control and transparency in access to the Parliament and ministries, which must be recorded and made public.
4. The introduction of a Freedom of Information Act, which guarantees free access to any information and documents produced and held by the public administration, including of course information about lobbying activities.
5. Rules about the "revolving door" that also includes the activity of lobbying, and in particular the introduction of cooling-off periods for the Members of the Parliament, the Government and senior public officials, during which they cannot be allowed to carry out lobbying activities in relation to the institution in which they occupied their functions previously.
6. Lobbyists also play an especially important role in the promotion of greater transparency and integrity in the field.  The preparation and adoption at national level by the associations of lobbyists of a system of guidelines for all categories.
7. The promotion through greater protection of investigative journalism, that can contribute to the awareness and understanding of the lobbying phenomenon in a more objective way.