On October 11 the European Ombudsman P. Nikiforos Diaman-douros found that the European Council has given no valid reasons for refusing to meet in public whenever it is acting in its legislative capacity.
This was stated in a special report to the European Parliament, with a recommendation that "the Council of the European Union should review its refusal to decide to meet publicly whenever it is acting in its legislative capacity."
The call for more transparency is not being addressed solely to the European institutions. It is also being addressed to the lobbyists in Brussels.
Last March the Commission announced a European Transpa-rency Initiative (ETI), denoting plans to strengthen transparency rules both for EU policy-makers and for lobbyists seeking to influence them. Since then, the Brussels debate on lobbying transparency has increased.
The French and Dutch rejections of the proposed European Constitution also contributed to this debate - both events being generally perceived as a reflection of public sentiments that the EU has become increasingly detached from the ordinary citizen and increasingly receptive to corporate and political vested interests.
The ETI proposes that lobbyists in Brussels should be required to report on the specific interest they represent and how they are financed, as well as the publication of detailed accounts of how EU money is being spent, in particular the finances allocated to NGOs.
A registry of lobbyists is also suggested. The latter proposals seek to render 'open lobby' practice within the EU, and in so doing, they also reinforce the reality of an EU characterised by lobbying. To what extent do we Maltese as EU citizens recognise and exploit this reality?
Do direct and indirect stakeholders (NGOs, organisations, companies, individuals) in Malta take on a pro-active approach and engage in advocacy for policy orientation which is in their interest and/or the public interest.
According to Administrative Affairs and Anti-Fraud Commis-sioner Siim Kallas, there are approximately 15,000 lobbyists in Brussels (consultants, lawyers, trade associations, corporations NCOs) seeking to influence the EU decision-making players.
Furthermore, some 2,600 special interest groups have a permanent office in Brussels. The EU legislative world therefore revolves around the lobbying profession - an element which entities within the new member states, including Malta, need to gear up to.