Spain: Market regulator introduces Lobbyist registry

Spanish competition Super-regulator CNMC has launched the first Lobbyist and pressure group registry in Spanish government. The registry is voluntary, public and free of charge. The registry is aimed at companies, associations, platforms, networks, consultancy groups and professional services, analysts and academic institutions who wish to join in exchange to adhering to a ‘Decalogue’ of ethical principles, developed by the agency.

The ethical guide obliges those who join to act with transparency in their dealings with the CNMC, openly informing when acting as a lobby. Among the ten principles, the list includes: “Not placing any CNMC employee in any situation that may result in conflict of interests”; “Not to incite, by any means, public employees of the CNMC to violate the law or rules of conduct…” and “not to abuse membership in this registry for publicity, or to claim that belonging to the registry confers any special privileges.”

The registry is intended as an institutional mechanism that will provide transparency to the CNMC’s external contributors, whichever they may be. “Interest groups perform an important and legitimate role in the democratic process. It is a fundamental right for representatives of civil society to have access to institutions, gather information, defend themselves or push for changes to legislation which affects them.”

Full content: El Español

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