Toughest Law in Europe Goes Into Effect

Public concerns about corruption in Spain have been growing in recent years, amid a string of scandals involving hundreds of powerful politicians and business leaders. The revolving door between public office and corporate boardrooms is a particular concern, according to Transparency International, which warns that poor oversight of the Spanish public sector and lobbyists has led to abuses of office and influence. In the capital, Madrid, a new lobbying register has been created to shed more light on who influences public decision-making. Launched in 2017 as part of a new transparency law — the Transparency Ordinance of the City of Madrid — the mandatory registry requires lobbyists to disclose any meetings with public officials of the Madrid City Council. They must record their name, affiliated lobbying organization, and the clients they represent, as well as the topic of the meeting and important supporting documents.

The information is publicly available online through an easy-to-use digital platform and may be reused freely without a license or prior approval. Users can also subscribe to receive alerts on particular areas of interest, view officials’ event calendars, and request meetings with councillors through the site.

Lobbying records are becoming an increasingly popular way to generate transparency in public decision-making in Europe and shine a light on influence peddling. They also provide an entry point for improved civic participation. As Spain’s largest city, Madrid’s efforts to open up lobbying will be a promising test case for other governments. More than two hundred lobbyists have been registered on the site within its first six months, along with 62 meetings, attended by council officials, that involved lobbying activity.

Source: OGP