Lobbying Transparency: The Limits of EU Monitory Democracy

This article examines the origins and current operation of the EU’s lobbying transparency register and offers a critical review of the drivers and politics associated with lobbying reform in Brussels. The analysis considers the dynamics of political communication in EU institutions and draws on conc...

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Main Author: William Dinan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cogitatio 2021-03-01
Series:Politics and Governance
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.cogitatiopress.com/politicsandgovernance/article/view/3936
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author William Dinan
author_facet William Dinan
author_sort William Dinan
collection DOAJ
description This article examines the origins and current operation of the EU’s lobbying transparency register and offers a critical review of the drivers and politics associated with lobbying reform in Brussels. The analysis considers the dynamics of political communication in EU institutions and draws on concepts of the fourth estate, the public sphere and monitory democracy to illustrate the particular challenges around lobbying transparency and opening up governance processes to wider scrutiny, and wider participation, at the EU level. This article draws upon interviews, official data and participant observation of some of the deliberations on lobbying transparency dating back to the 2005 ETI. The analysis is brought up to date by examining the data within the Transparency Register itself, both substantively in terms of the kinds of information disclosed and in relation to trends around disclosures and registration, since the register was launched over a decade ago. The article concludes with a critical appraisal of the evolving issue culture relating to lobbying transparency in Brussels as well as recommendations for the development of the Transparency Register itself.
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spelling doaj.art-a5b386d5e6e9432895317a4857e6784f2022-12-22T00:51:08ZengCogitatioPolitics and Governance2183-24632021-03-019123724710.17645/pag.v9i1.39361920Lobbying Transparency: The Limits of EU Monitory DemocracyWilliam Dinan0Division of Communication, Media & Culture, Faculty of Arts & Humanities, University of Stirling, UKThis article examines the origins and current operation of the EU’s lobbying transparency register and offers a critical review of the drivers and politics associated with lobbying reform in Brussels. The analysis considers the dynamics of political communication in EU institutions and draws on concepts of the fourth estate, the public sphere and monitory democracy to illustrate the particular challenges around lobbying transparency and opening up governance processes to wider scrutiny, and wider participation, at the EU level. This article draws upon interviews, official data and participant observation of some of the deliberations on lobbying transparency dating back to the 2005 ETI. The analysis is brought up to date by examining the data within the Transparency Register itself, both substantively in terms of the kinds of information disclosed and in relation to trends around disclosures and registration, since the register was launched over a decade ago. The article concludes with a critical appraisal of the evolving issue culture relating to lobbying transparency in Brussels as well as recommendations for the development of the Transparency Register itself.https://www.cogitatiopress.com/politicsandgovernance/article/view/3936accountabilitydisclosurelobbyingmonitory democracypolitical communicationspublic spheretransparency
spellingShingle William Dinan
Lobbying Transparency: The Limits of EU Monitory Democracy
Politics and Governance
accountability
disclosure
lobbying
monitory democracy
political communications
public sphere
transparency
title Lobbying Transparency: The Limits of EU Monitory Democracy
title_full Lobbying Transparency: The Limits of EU Monitory Democracy
title_fullStr Lobbying Transparency: The Limits of EU Monitory Democracy
title_full_unstemmed Lobbying Transparency: The Limits of EU Monitory Democracy
title_short Lobbying Transparency: The Limits of EU Monitory Democracy
title_sort lobbying transparency the limits of eu monitory democracy
topic accountability
disclosure
lobbying
monitory democracy
political communications
public sphere
transparency
url https://www.cogitatiopress.com/politicsandgovernance/article/view/3936
work_keys_str_mv AT williamdinan lobbyingtransparencythelimitsofeumonitorydemocracy