01/03/2024
Transparency stands as the cornerstone in addressing the disproportionate sway of corporate lobbying in policymaking. Without a clear understanding of who is financing lobbying endeavours and for what ends, grappling with the undue influence of powerful corporations within public institutions remains a formidable challenge.
Earlier this month, the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance released a discussion paper titled “Mapping and Analysing Lobbying Registers.” Authored by Alexander Katsaitis, Assistant Professor at the Department of Political Science, Stockholm University, the paper evaluates 16 lobbying registers worldwide, including the EU Transparency Register.
The paper scrutinises the performance of lobbying registers across three interconnected dimensions: transparency, encompassing the breadth of collected information and its disclosure; regulatory capacity, reflecting the efficacy of enforcement mechanisms; and interoperability, assessing the register’s ability to cross-reference with other public datasets within the same and other jurisdictions.
While the paper acknowledges the potential of lobbying registers to illuminate lobbying activities, it warns against their misuse, which may foster a false sense of transparency. Notably, the paper underscores the deficiency in disclosing lobbyists’ past affiliations with the public sector, commonly known as revolving doors. For instance, the EU Transparency Register lacks a requirement for such disclosures.
In navigating the intricate nexus of politics and corporate interests, prioritising robust transparency measures is paramount to ensuring accountability and preserving the integrity of democratic decision-making. Only through comprehensive and enforceable regulations can we genuinely confront the disproportionate influence of corporate lobbying and safeguard the public interest.