We wrote to Euractiv to tell them this, but they appear not to have published our letter.  We have pasted it below.  One other interesting detail is that Guéguen's lobbying firm CLAN Public Affairs has a novel take on lobbying ethics.  Their 'Code of conduct' notes that: 'Controversial industries, NGOs of all types, competitors, large and small size companies are all part of our list of clients.'

The idea that the only ethical policy is to have no ethical policy is indeed a novel twist in the notoriously ethics free lobbying world.

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Glasgow, 13 May 2005

Dear Sir,

We enjoyed the unusually candid interview with lobbyist Daniel Guéguen last week. For an experienced Brussels lobbyist to frankly admit to manipulating the political process using "manipulation, destabilisation or disinformation" is rare indeed.

Paradoxically, one must welcome Guéguen's honest contribution to the growing debate on the registration of lobbyists under the proposed Kallas 'Transparency Initiative'. If ever we needed a reminder of the urgent necessity of public interest reforms in this area, then Guéguen's timely remarks have certainly provided one!

Professional lobbyists have already begun their campaign to resist any formal regulation of their activities. They are arguing a familiar case that registration is an unnecessary and unworkable solution to concerns over the influence of lobbyists on the democratic process. They are in effect asking us to trust them, they will look after their own ethics and the probity of the EU decision making system.

Such an outcome is unacceptable, and flies in the face of natural justice and common sense. Guéguen, and many others in the lucrative Brussels lobbying industry, would like the Transparency Initiative to fail and reinforce secrecy. His remarks on reforms leading to a situation where lobbyists could protect the confidentiality of their sources is both bizarre and anti-democratic. Lobbyists exist to promote private, sectional interests.

Guéguen suggests that lobbying disclosure doesn't work in the U.S. and that such measures in Europe could lead to an unacceptable corruption of the financing of political parties in Europe. This is a complete red herring designed to cloud the issue of lobbying disclosure Let us be very clear. Lobbying disclosure does not help monied interests buy off European politics. Quite the contrary. It will give the public some sense of the money already devoted to influencing the commission and parliament by vested interests. This can only be a healthy development.

It is important that Commission officials don't lose sight of the stakes involved here. Mandatory disclosure of lobbying is needed to redress a key democratic deficit at the heart of European politics. We cannot rely on lobbyists to police themselves. The Kallas cabinet, and the commission, should be encouraged to press ahead with the Transparency Initiative, and introduce a mandatory register of lobbyists that discloses information on clients, expenditures, contacts with elected representatives and officials, and the legislation lobbied on.

Yours sincerely,

Professor David Miller                          University of Strathclyde

William Dinan                                                   & Spinwatch