08.05.08 Bonde on lobbyism
Speech given in the mini-plenary in Bruxelles on May 8th, 2008
Mr. President,
The Parliament’s working group on reform has been in Washington to study the American congress.
We saw how all lobbyists have to register their function and their income from the different clients.
It is mandatory in the US and Canada and not voluntary as the Commission propose.
We also saw how each member of congress documented their budget including every paid cop of coffee.
If they can do it - why cant we?
Why can’t we be fully transparent with our secretarial allowances in the EP and then claim transparency in the other institutions?
In the last meeting in the Conference of Presidents we became aware of organised lobbyism in our own house.
In a very big and nice room at 5th floor in the Spinelli building 28 multinational companies have their own office, with telephone numbers and e-mail addresses -paid by Parliament.
It may be a very good scheme linking companies to MEPs.
But no one presented this proposal for us. It was established behind our back.
The views of the small and medium sized companies are missing.
The views of the consumers, trade unions and the green organisations are missing.
It may be a good idea to rent facilities to lobbyists - but then every one shall be invited and an elected board can supervise the activities.
Multinational companies are not those who most need our financial support.
The board for the scheme has been handpicked and not elected from our political groups.
This is the latest lobbyist scandal I hope you will redress.
This is my last political speech in the European Parliament. If I may have one wish it will be the adoption of the proposal from the Convention, signed by 23 governments and every single member from the national parliaments, every MEP except one.
Make all documents and meetings open unless you decide a grounded derogation.
This simple proposal will also solve most problems with biased lobbyism.
We would then be able to see what they write to us or to the Commission, and we would take part in decisions on derogations from transparency so we would know what is hidden for us, and why.
We need the lobbyists to raise and improve the laws. We need their knowledge and advice and counter arguments from other interests.
We need balanced or pluralist information since we were elected to serve all citizens equally.
Thank You
