INTERVIEW WITHaKARL ISAKSON, CHAIRMAN, EPACA : 'WE WERE ALREADY QUITE TRANSPARENT'.

PositionInterview

Karl Isakson, the chairman of the European Public Affairs Consultancies' Association (EPACA) and managing partner of KREAB GAVIN ANDERSON, explains the views on the Transparency Register of the representative trade body for public affairs consultancies working with EU institutions.

What is the best thing about the register?

I think the best thing is that it covers all interests. We see some domestic discussions about a register or regulation and these tend to focus only on consultancies or private companies. The good thing about this one is that it covers think tanks, trade associations, trade unions, consultancies, law firms and in-house companies. Out of the 6,000 entries, there are some 400 consultancies. So, a big chunk is not consultancies. I usually remind people of this. I think it adds to transparency. I cannot say that we have changed our way of working. We were already quite transparent because that is the way to work in Brussels.

What do you consider to be its main weaknesses?

EPACA's official view, and my personal one, is that a major weakness is that it is not mandatory. We would like to see a mandatory register, but I have some sympathy for the Commission's view. You need lots more resources to operate a mandatory system. How do you enforce it, how do you punish those who do not sign up? Parliament is in favour of a mandatory register, but MEPs also say that as elected politicians they have to be able to meet whoever they want. You can't have it both ways. I sympathise with them, but you have to realise those are two different statements.

Perhaps the main weakness is that is not encouraged enough by the Commission and MEPs. That may be changing now, but some time ago I was ready to bet that half the MEPs and half the Commission staff did not know it exists. The number of times we are asked if we are registered when we call someone can be counted on the fingers of one hand. It has maybe happened to me five times in five years. That is what we say every time we go to stakeholders' meetings because that is a quick question to ask and "yes" is a quick answer. If you say "no" and are then asked why, you have to explain that before you get to the issue. That would encourage people to sign up. You can't force elected MEPs to ask the question, but you can make Commission staff do so.

In what practical ways do you consider the present arrangements could be improved?

I would like to see more resources for the secretariat so that it can...

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