Based on the current EU concept, anyone aiming to influence policy [directly or indirectly influencing the formulation and implementation of policy and the decision-making processes of the EU institutions] is considered a lobbyist, although the register does not use this very term. The ambiguity of the EU Transparency Register results from a lack of definitions e.g. Who is Lobbyist, Who is a Lobbying Firm, What are Lobbying Activities, What is a Lobbying Contact.

Businesses justify their public policy advocacy as intrinsic and essential to strategic management of their businesses, inasmuch as their business success or failure can be greatly influenced by government decisions. Top managers who recognize this dependence feel a responsibility to make known the effect of such decisions on their companies and to defend their companies’ interests against those of other companies or interest groups who are also active in the public policy advocacy arena.

Stressing that the integrity of law making at EU level needs to be above suspicion, Transparency International (TI) has asked the EP  under the leadership of President Schulz to be clear about who is influencing EU policies. TI advocates that a ‘legislative footprint’ should be attached to each European Parliament report, detailing all the relevant input received from lobbyists/interest representatives for draft policies, laws and amendments

The Conference of European Regional Legislative Assemblies (CALRE) unites seventy-four presidents of European sub-national  or regional parliaments with legislative powers. They are established in Austria, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

Germany will exert much influence in the new European Parliament having secured leadership positions:

Presidency of the European People's Party, President of the European Parliament, 2 Vice-Presidents of the European Parliament,  5 Committee Chairmanships, 11 Vice-Chairmanships.

• President of the European People's Party:Manfred Weber
• President of the European Parliament: Martin Schulz (S&D)
• Vice-Presidents of the European Parliament: Rainer Wieland (EPP) and Alexander Graf Lambsdorff (ALDE)

Committee Chairmanships:

France only managed to secure two Committee Chairs, compared to four during the last legislature. Out of the 22 Committees and Sub-Committees, only two will be led by a French person i.e. the Budget Committee and the Fisheries Committee. The Budget and Fisheries Committees are important for France, but they come as little consolation.

Germany chairs 5 Committees, Poland 4 Committees, Italy 3 Committees, United Kingdom 3 Committees, France 2 Committees, Spain 2 Committees, Bulgaria 1 Committee, Czech Republic 1 Committee, Sweden 1 Committee.

Here below are the elected Chairs and Vice-Chairs of the Committees of the European Parliament listed in alphabetical order:

Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI)

Chair: Czeslaw Adam Siekierski (EPP, PL)

Vice-Chairs

• 1st. Eric Andrieu (S&D, FR)
• 2nd Janusz Wojciechowski (ECR, PL)
• 3rd: Clara Eugenia Aguilera Garcia (S&D, ES)
• 4th. Viorica Dancila (S&D, RO)

Budgets (BUDG)

Chair: Jean Arthuis (ALDE, FR)

Vice-Chairs:

AALEP whose primary function is to promote and encourage high standards among public policy advocates through professional development and networking announced that it has opened a Representative Office in Perth, Western Australia on July 1st, Australia's new Financial Year, in recognition of Australia's growing importance in Asia-Pacific Region and global stage and to better serve its members. In addition, it announced that Ms.

The constituent meetings of the European Parliament's standing and sub committees will take place in Brussels on 07.07.14, following the election of their individual members during the plenary sitting of 03.07.14. During these meetings, each standing and sub committee will elect their respective bureau, made up of a chair and up to 4 vice-chairs, for a two-and-a-half year mandate. The newly set up committees will then start meeting again during the week of 22-24.07.14

Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs in the European Parliament  (61) Full members

The constituent meetings of the European Parliament's standing and sub committees will take place in Brussels on 07.07.14, following the election of their individual members during the plenary sitting of 03.07.14. During these meetings, each standing and sub committee will elect their respective bureau, made up of a chair and up to 4 vice-chairs, for a two-and-a-half year mandate. The newly set up committees will then start meeting again during the week of 22-24.07.14

Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO)  (40) Full members