EurActiv writes (with a good dossier on the issue):

The European transparency initiative is welcomed across the board by EU public affairs professionals. But the positive statements cover up deep uneasiness over how far regulation should go and who should be included.

Launching his Green Paper on a European Transparency Initiative on 3 May, Commission Vice-President Siim Kallas admitted that no hard regulatory measures were likely to come out on lobbying transparency under his term in office.

"We will start with voluntary measures," Kallas said, adding that compulsory measures would follow "only if it fails" and probably "not until the end period of this Commission" due to the length of the legislative procedure.

In the Green paper, the Commission rules out mandatory registration of lobbyists, saying "a tighter system of self-regulation would appear more appropriate".

For an insight into the Brussels lobbying world take a look at

EUlobbytours — Intro
A virtual tour of the European Quarter of Brusels with actual panoramic street views (Take note of the architecture -old and new) and a pointed text commentary.

… attracted by the increased powers of the European Commission, Parliament and other EU institutions, thousands of lobbyists have set up shop in the European quarter in EU capital Brussels. While estimates vary, the number of professional lobbyists has long passed 10,000, of which a large majority promotes the interests of big business. 5000 lobbyists are registered at the European Parliament with an Industry to NGO ratio of 7:1. Spending on corporate lobbying in Brussels is estimated to be up to 1 billion euro per year.

Undoubtedly some Corporate responsibility, transparency and openness is long overdue but who will 'police' such regulation - voluntary or otherwise?

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