This article, co-signed by 10 Directors on the Management committee of EPACA, argues that the Transparency Initiative by Commissioner Kallas was seized by "some radical anti-globalisation NGOs" campaigning against alleged excessive business influence on EU decision-makers. 

According to the 10 signatories, the self-regulatory initiatives already put in place by PA consultants have simply not been tested yet. "The general absence of substantive concerns or scandals about unethical lobbying is striking," they point out. 

In contrast, they say, the campaign by the Corporate Europe Observatory "has involved significant distortions of the truth" which has highlighted "a major problem of honesty among NGOs" which does require EU regulation. 

However, they write that, if mandatory rules are to be enforced, they should apply to all lobbyists although this would pose practical problems. 

In the meantime, EPACA says it is "putting into effect new self-regulatory arrangements with real sanctions and credible and authoritative processes." 

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Click here to read the full text published in Public Affairs News, October 2005