Over 15 thousand lobbyists in Brussels, 5 thousand of whom accredited to the EU Parliament; two thousand and five hundred "pressure groups". A consolidated reality regulated by a Parliament register, available on the Internet, since 1996. The Assembly of the 27 countries, in plenary session, is now asking for a register of the lobbies in common with the other institutions of the Union, and an ethic code to rule its activity. The definition of lobbyism is included in the report drawn up by German MEP Ingo Friedrich, according to whom lobbyism is a series of "activities meant to influence the elaboration of policies and the decision process of European institutions". In EU offices, "representatives of interests" and associated entities (not just the economic ones, but also the social, cultural, volunteering and environmental ones) "play an essential role in the open and pluralistic dialogue which is the basis for every democratic system". Parliament, Commission and Council are thus "open", but also "independent": in the text before the Assembly, it is written that MEPs must "be able to make independent political choices with respect to lobbyists". The creation of the "sole office" for accreditation and code of conduct would thus be necessary to "rule this presence".
