De Jong: European Parliament must refuse access to unregistered lobbyists
De Jong: European Parliament must refuse access to unregistered lobbyists
SP Euro-MP Dennis de Jong describes the outcome of the negotiations between the European Parliament and the European Commission on a common register for lobbyists as ‘a symbolic first step’, but emphasises that things must not stop there. ‘I want to see an obligatory regime under which unregistered lobbyists are denied access to the Parliament,’ he says. ‘I’m pleased with EP president Jerzy Buzek’s statement today in response to my request, in which he said that today’s vote would not be the last word on the access of lobbyists to the European Parliament.”
Six weeks ago the British newspaper, using journalists posing as lobbyists, bribed a number of MEPs. On the basis of this scandal the Parliament established a working group whose task is to come up with a new code of conduct. De Jong is the only Dutch member of this 8-person body.