eu commission and a code of conduct for lobbyists May 28, 2008
Posted by Bradley in : lobbying , add a commentYesterday the Commission published, as a Communication (a formally non-binding document), a voluntary register and a Code of Conduct for Interest Representatives. Interest representation is braodly lobbying, although there are some activities which one might consider to be lobbying which are excluded. The Commission states that:
Registrants agree to abide by this Code or declare that they already abide by a professional code that has comparable rules.
Non-compliance with the Code can lead to removal from the register. As some of those who commented on the earlier proposal noted, the Code is not very ambitious.
transparency of comments on proposed regulation April 24, 2008
Posted by Bradley in : lobbying , add a commentOn reading the LIBA-SIFMA response to the FSA’s January 2008 Discussion Paper on a Review of the Structure of the Listing Regime I thought it would be interesting to see what other organizations had expressed views on the DP and what those views were. If this were a regulatory proposal published by the SEC I’d be able to look on the SEC’s website for comments. For example, here are comments on the recent naked short selling anti-fraud proposal. But the FSA produces response papers analysing the various responses rather than publishing them itself. Trade associations do publish their responses on their own websites, so it is possible to find them, at least in some cases, but relying on commenters to make their comments available produces a less transparent process than if the regulator makes all comments on a particular proposal available in one place.
I often think the FSA makes more effort to consider the interests of financial services consumers than CESR, but here is one example where that is not the case as CESR does itself publish the comments it receives on its own initiatives. In some ways, having the FSA analyse and summarise the responses is helpful (see for example this document on responses relating to private equity) but it would be nice for transparency to have easy and immediate access to comments as they are being made (as is the case with the SEC) as well.
innovation in advocacy November 27, 2007
Posted by Bradley in : lobbying , add a commentAnd a new initiative from the US Chamber of Commerce. This coming Friday a new series of talks begins, described as follows:
The advocacy world is constantly expanding, to stay ahead join us for the launch of the Innovative Advocacy Series. Hill staffers talk frankly about the advocacy campaigns that grab their attention, and which efforts they often disregard. Hear directly from the people you are trying to reach and find out what really influences a Congressional office from the people who work there.
It’s a snip at $225 for Friday’s event alone and $495 for the series. The series includes 4 events, one of which is on “Amassing a Grassroots Army to Engage in Election 2008″.