Portugal is going to need a gigantic bailout of at least € 70 billion . The European Financial Stability Facility (temporary rescue facility) is currently at € 250 billion and EU officials want to expand it to € 440 billion. Already € 177 billion has been loaned by the wealthier nations of the EU to bail out Greece and Ireland. What could be the worst scenario in Spain: The Spanish property market would fall so hard that the country's struggling regional banks known as cajas would need more money to cover their losses than the Spanish state can raise.

AALEP would like to propose the following Principles of Engagement with MEPs   Lobbyists shall observe the following principles when engaging with MEPs: (a) lobbyists shall not engage in any conduct that is corrupt, dishonest or illegal, or unlawfully cause or threaten any detriment (b) 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 MEPs (c) lobbyists shall not make misleading, exaggerated or extravagant claims about, or otherwise misrepresen

There are currently 200 lobbyists who operate in Poland, or more precisely 200 individuals and/or entities are recorded as professional lobbyists in the Register of Lobbyists maintained by the Polish Interior Ministry. In Poland, a lobbyist is required to register with the Ministry of Interior prior to approaching a government official for the purpose of influencing legislation on behalf of a third person.

The European Parliament's political leadership has decided to overhaul the rules governing the access and behaviour of lobbyists. Although at this time we do not know precisely what the 'new rules' will be, it is likely that when applying for a long term badge, lobbyists will need to provide all the information required for full registration. This means the system will become mandatory. The code of conduct for MEPs will be also be strengthened. Changes will also be made to the Rules of Procedures to enact these new rules.

12 times a year, the 736 MEPs and well over 3,000 staff and officials make the 850 km round trip. They stay for just 4 days in a building which costs taxpayers across Europe € 457 million and sits unused for more than 300 days of the year.

There is a need for the European Parliament to engage in systematic thinking and adopt a holistic approach in putting in place an ethics infrastructure, that will draw on a range of instruments in a coherent fashion. The design of an ethics infrastructure should involve both compliance and integrity instruments, as well as clear ethical principles integrated within the management and accountability structure of the European Parliament.

It is AALEP's opinion that the European Commission and the European Parliament ought to play a more active and consistent role in educating and informing registered lobbyists about the rules of professional ethics for members and staff of the European Commission as well the rules of professional ethics for MEPs, Assistant MEPs and staff of the European Parliament. The posting of these rules on the Internet is simply not enough.

In the face of the bribery scandal that has hit the European Parliament, Ms. Diana Wallis, UK Liberal MEP and a Vice-President of the European Parliament with responsibility for transparency matters will lead a special cross-party panel to work on proposals for reform Parliamentary rules governing MEPs and Lobbyists. What is being considered: 1.

There are no regulations on lobbying in India, so far, but it is not illegal either. Lobbying is a well-established industry though it operates in a largely opaque environment. There have been demands from the lobbying industry and also outsiders to spell out clear laws determining dos and don'ts for the pratitioners, but it has not happened thus far. Industry bodies such as the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the National Association of Software and Services Companies are among the top lobbying groups.

AALEP advocates the development of a programme of ethics education and training for Assistant MEPs, MEPs and registered lobbyists to educate them on the rules and what behaviour is permissible and not permissible. The programme would include the preparation and publishing of an ethics education manual, orientation courses for new Assistant MEPs and MEPS, current issues seminars for Assistant MEPs and MEPs. Similarly a programme of ethics and education and training would be specifically designed for and made available for lobbyists.