PRINCIPLES OF ENGAGEMENT WITH PUBLIC OFFICE HOLDERS

Lobbying is a legitimate, unavoidable, and when conducted properly even a desirable activity. Lobbying can be a reflection of the principles of representativeness and voter participation, and can provide decision makers with information vital to their work.

In order to increase transparency in lobbying, lobbyists should observe the following principles when engaging with Public Office Holders

1. Lobbyists shall not engage in any conduct that is corrupt, dishonest or illegal, or unlawfully cause or threaten any detriment;
2. Lobbyists shall use all reasonable endeavours to satisfy themselves of the truth and accuracy of all statements and information provided by them to clients whom they represent, the wider public and Public Office Holders;
3. Lobbyists shall not make misleading, exaggerated or extravagant claims about, or otherwise misrepresent, the nature or extent of their access to Public Office Holders e.g. Government representatives, members of political parties or to any other person;
4. Lobbyists shall keep strictly separate from their duties and activities as lobbyists any personal activity or involvement on behalf of a political party;
5. When making initial contact with Public Office Holders with the intention of conducting lobbying activities, lobbyists who are proposing to conduct lobbying activities on behalf of clients must inform the Public Office Holders that (i) they are lobbyists or employees of, or contractors or persons engaged by, lobbyists; (ii) whether they are currently listed on the Register of Lobbyists; (iii) the name of their relevant client or clients; and (iv) the nature of the matters that their clients wish them to raise with Public Office Holders.

EU Code of Conduct (Transparency Register)

In their relations with the EU institutions and their Members, officials and other staff, registrants shall:

a. always identify themselves by name and by their entity or entities they work for or represent; declare the interests, objectives or aims promoted and, where applicable, specify the clients or members whom they represent;

b. not obtain or try to obtain information, or any decision, dishonestly, or by use of undue pressure or inappropriate behaviour;

c. not claim any formal relationship with the EU or any of its institutiions in their dealings with third parties, nor misrepresent the effect of registration in such a way as to mislead third parties or officials or other staff of the EU;

d. ensure that, to the best of their knowledge, information which they provide upon registration and subsequently in the framework of their activities within the scope of the register is complete, up-to-date and not misleading;

e. not sell to third parties copies of documents obtained from any EU institutions;

f. not induce Members of the EU institutions, officials or other staff of the EU, or assistants or trainees of those Members, to contravene the rules and standards of behaviour applicable to them;

g. if employing former officials or other staff of the EU or assistants or trainees of Members of the EU institutions, respect the obligations of such employees to abide by the rules and confidentiality requirements which apply to them;

h. observe any rules laid down on the rights and responsibilities of former Members of the European Parliament and the European Commission;

i. inform whomever they represent of their obligations towards the EU institutions.

Individuals representing or working for entities which have registered with the European Parliament with a view to being issued with a personal, non-transferable badge affording access to the European Parliament's premises shall:

j. comply strictly with the provisions of Rule 9, of, and Annex X and the second paragraph of Article 2 of Annex I to, the European Parliament's Rules of of Procedure;

k. satisfy themselves that any assistance provided in the context of Article 2 of Annex I to the European Parliament's Rules of Procedure is declared in the appropriate register;

l. in order to avoid possible conflicts of interest, obtain the prior consent of the Member or Members of the European Parliament concerned as regards any contractual relationship with or employment of a Member's assistant, and subsequently declare this in the register.