MEPs and corporate dominance in Cyprus

Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor

I refer to your excellent editorial, "What do future MEPs say about corporate dominance?", May 13-19 issue, which raised an issue very close to my heart.
As you know, the European Commission drafts legislation that it presents to the EU Parliament to be voted on. The Commission is obviously, therefore, the prime target of special interest lobbyists.
Perhaps surprisingly, the Commission prepared a "European Transparency Initiative" with a view to making lobbyists' activities more transparent. A register of lobbyists and an accompanying "code of conduct" was proposed but, unfortunately, only on a voluntary basis and without any timeframe, i.e., quite useless!
In May 2008, the EU Parliament adopted the report, which supported in principle the idea of a mandatory register for lobbyists. The EU Greens tried to amend this to ensure a clear implementation time so that this initiative could enter into force before the elections. Sadly, this amendment was defeated by a majority of MEPs.
If elected on June 6, we assure your readers that a Cyprus Green MEP, along with EU Greens, will continue to keep tabs on lobbyists and the European Commission. With an entirely new Parliament, it just may be possible to push through mandatory and immediate transparency on lobbyists who influence EU decision-making on quality of life issues, such as cleaner and efficient energy, safe and sustainable food, financial markets and fair trade, environment and public health. Wish us luck!

Sincerely,
Linda Leblanc
Pegeia Municipal Councillor and
Cyprus Green Party Euro election candidate
www.cyprusgreens.org