Tamasin Cave, 22 November 2007

SpinWatch today condemned the move by UK Liberal MEP Chris Davies to adopt a weak stance on corporate lobbying at the European Parliament.

This morning, the Parliament’s influential Environment Committee voted on whether or not to propose the introduction of stricter rules for lobbyists in Brussels. 

It rejected Davies’ proposed amendment to the Committee calling for the establishment of a voluntary system of registration for lobbyists, compared to a mandatory one. Davies had also argued for a voluntary requirement that lobbyists declare how much they are paid.

Davies defended his position by claiming that “not once” in over eight years in Brussels had he been exposed to inappropriate lobbying. Davies said the US system of mandatory regulation of lobbyists was inappropriate for Brussels. “I do not need a constant supply of private sector money to secure my reelection,” he said.

Miller continued: “A mandatory register of lobbyists would allow EU citizens to see which commercial interests are hiring lobbyists, how much money they are spending on lobbying, and, crucially, which areas of policy they are trying to influence. While Mr Davies may have never been inappropriately lobbied, he is only one of 785 MEPs.”

Until recently, Davies had a reputation as an environmental champion. However, in October 2007, during a Parliamentary debate on the Communities’ strategy to reduce CO2 emissions for cars, he was called “a climate Judas ” by Claude Turmes MEP, who accused Davies of “siding with reactionary Tories to help the car industry in Europe to win time.”

Davies has also defended lobbying. At a training course for lobbyists, Davies said: “I need lobbyists. I depend on lobbyists. ” He explained that due to the work pressure and complexity of issues on the Parliament’s agenda, he was eager to receive specific amendments from industry on proposed legislation.