Editing Lobbying (section)

===European Union===
{{Main|European Union lobbying}}
[[File:EP-BrusselWiertzstraat-boom.jpg|thumb|The "lobby tree", planted in 2001 by SEAP, the professional organization of lobbyists, at Wiertzstraat in [[Brussels]], in front of the main entrance of the [[European Parliament]]]]
The first step towards specialized regulation of lobbying in the European Union was a Written Question tabled by Alman Metten, in 1989. In 1991, Marc Galle, Chairman of the Committee on the Rules of Procedure, the Verification of Credentials and Immunities, was appointed to submit proposals for a Code of conduct and a register of lobbyists. Today lobbying in the European Union is an integral and important part of decision-making in the EU. From year to year lobbying regulation in the EU is constantly improving and the number of lobbyists increases.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Nesterovych|first=Volodymyr|date=2015|title=EU standards for the regulation of lobbying|url=https://www.academia.edu/37339449|journal=Prawa Człowieka|volume=18|pages=98, 106}}</ref> This increase in lobbying activity is a result of the growing recognition of lobbying as a critical discipline at the intersection of politics, economics, and society.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Geiger |first=Andreas |title=EU lobbying handbook |date=2012 |publisher=Helios Media |isbn=978-1-4751-1749-3 |edition=2. |location=Brussels |pages=11–18}}</ref>

In 2003 there were around 15,000 lobbyists (consultants, lawyers, associations, corporations, NGOs etc.) in [[Brussels]] seeking to influence the EU's legislation. Some 2,600 special interest groups had a permanent office in Brussels. Their distribution was roughly as follows: European trade federations (32%), consultants (20%), companies (13%), NGOs (11%), national associations (10%), regional representations (6%), international organizations (5%) and [[think tank]]s (1%), (Lehmann, 2003, pp iii).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ec.europa.eu/civil_society/interest_groups/docs/workingdocparl.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061117042948/http://ec.europa.eu/civil_society/interest_groups/docs/workingdocparl.pdf |archive-date=2006-11-17 |url-status=live |title= Lobbying in the European Union: current rules and practices |first=Wilhelm |last=Lehman |year= 2003 |access-date=September 14, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.apertacontrada.it/2013/02/21/form-of-government-and-lobbies-in-uk-and-ue-a-comparative-perspective/  |first= Pier Luigi |last=Petrillo |title=Form of government and lobbying UK and UE, a comparative perspective |date=21 February 2013 |publisher=Apertacontrada |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20231008005042/http://www.apertacontrada.it/2013/02/21/form-of-government-and-lobbies-in-uk-and-ue-a-comparative-perspective/ |archive-date= Oct 8, 2023 }}</ref>

In addition to this, lobby organisations sometimes hire former EU employees (a phenomenon known as the revolving door) who possess inside knowledge of the EU institutions and policy process. This practice of hiring former EU employees is part of what lobbyist Andreas Geiger describes as lobbying's vital role in shaping law and decision-making processes, given the unique insights and access these individuals provide.<ref name=":3" /><ref name="transparency.eu">{{cite web |date=31 January 2017 |title=Transparency International EU (2017) Access All Areas: when EU politicians become lobbyists. |url=https://transparency.eu/access-all-areas/}}</ref> A report by [[Transparency International]] EU published in January 2017 analysed the career paths of former EU officials and found that 30% of Members of the [[European Parliament]] who left politics went to work for organisations on the EU lobby register after their mandate and approximately one-third of Commissioners serving under Barroso took jobs in the private sector after their mandate, including for [[Uber]], [[ArcelorMittal]], [[Goldman Sachs]] and [[Bank of America Merrill Lynch]]. These potential conflicts of interest could be avoided if a stronger ethics framework were established at the EU level, including an independent ethics body and longer cooling-off periods for MEPs.<ref name="transparency.eu" />

In the wake of the [[Jack Abramoff Indian lobbying scandal]] in Washington, D.C., and the massive impact this had on the lobbying scene in the United States, the rules for lobbying in the EU—which until now consisted of only a non-binding code of conduct—may also be tightened.<ref>[http://europa.eu/documents/comm/green_papers/pdf/com2006_194_en.pdf Green Paper on European Transparency Initiative] [[European Commission]], 2006.  Retrieved September 20, 2009</ref>

Eventually, on 31 January 2019, the [[European Parliament]] adopted binding rules on lobby transparency. Amending its Rules of Procedure, the Parliament stipulated that [[MEPs]] involved in drafting and negotiating legislation must publish online their meetings with lobbyists.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://transparency.eu/press-release-european-parliament-to-end-secret-lobby-meetings| title = EU Parliament to end secret lobby meetings| date = 31 January 2019}}</ref> The amendment says that "rapporteurs, shadow rapporteurs or committee chairs shall, for each report, publish online all scheduled meetings with interest representatives falling under the scope of the [[Transparency Register]]"- the database of the EU.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-8-2018-0462_EN.pdf| title = Text adopted by EU Parliament on lobbying transparency}}</ref>

The European allies were being lobbied by the [[UAE]] and [[Saudi Arabia]] to regain diplomatic ties with the Syrian government. The two Arab countries lobbied the European Union for months, pushing them to ease the sanctions on [[Syria]] for the revival of its collapsed economy. The [[UAE]] and its neighbour country argued that without the ease of sanctions, the diplomatic efforts to end the Syrian war would be ineffective. However, the EU nations, including France and Germany, turned down the idea of restoring ties with [[Syria]], stating that it would legitimize the regime that is accused of massacring its own people.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Adghirni |first=Samy |date=2023-06-15 |title= Saudis, UAE Lobby Europeans to Restore Ties With Syria's Assad |language=en |work=Bloomberg |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-06-15/saudis-uae-lobby-europeans-to-restore-ties-with-syria-s-assad|access-date=2023-06-27}}</ref>

====France====
There is currently no regulation at all for lobbying activities in France. There is no regulated access to the French institutions and no register specific to France, but there is one for the [[European Union]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/news/justice/091028_fr.htm |title=Pleins feux sur les lobbies dans l'UE (28 October 2009) |publisher=Ec.europa.eu |date=2009-10-28 |access-date=2013-06-20}}</ref> where French lobbyists are able to register themselves.<ref>{{cite web|author=Pseudo * |url=http://www.dsmw.org/lobbying.html |title=Le lobbying passe aussi par le web (12 March 2012) |publisher=Dsmw.org |access-date=2013-06-20}}</ref> For example, the internal rule of the National Assembly (art. 23 and 79) forbids members of Parliament to be linked with a particular interest{{Definition needed|date=May 2021}}<!-- french definition specifically -->. Also, there is no rule at all for consultation of interest groups by the Parliament and the Government. Nevertheless, a recent parliamentary initiative{{Which|date=May 2021}} (motion for a resolution) has been launched by several MPs{{Who|date=May 2021}} so as to establish a register for representatives of interest groups and lobbyists who intend to lobby the MPs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/18/10/38944365.pdf|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090325060849/http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/18/10/38944365.pdf|url-status=dead|title=French National Assembly : Motion for a Resolution on Lobbying (21 November 2006)|archivedate=March 25, 2009}}</ref><!-- Well in France law forces x-company (or organisation) to say x-company declares less than 50 000 euros (one employee on a year at full time basically) per year of lobbying, or 100 000 etc... -->

==== Germany ====
{{main|Lobbying in Germany}}

In Germany,  lobbying has existed since 1956, when the [[Federal Constitutional Court]] issued a ruling legalizing it. A mandatory [[lobby register]] (German: Lobbyliste) was introduced in Germany effective 1 January 2022, along with a code of conduct.<ref>{{cite news |last1=als/dpa |title=Kabinett beschließt Verhaltenskodex für Lobbyisten |url=https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/lobbyisten-kabinett-beschliesst-verhaltenskodex-a-24da84c9-ac47-46f5-92f2-6780806f5589 |access-date=31 May 2023 |work=Spiegel |date=16 June 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=AFP, dpa, tst |title=Europarat bemängelt Deutschlands Kampf gegen Korruption |url=https://www.zeit.de/wirtschaft/2021-05/europarat-lobbyismus-korruption-deutschland-kritik |access-date=31 May 2023 |work=Die Zeit |date=10 May 2021}}</ref> These rules were criticized as insufficient by several opposition party members and representatives from the [[Council of Europe]], who argued that they did not adequately address issues of transparency and potential conflicts of interest.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ZEIT ONLINE {{!}} Lesen Sie zeit.de mit Werbung oder im PUR-Abo. Sie haben die Wahl. |url=https://www.zeit.de/zustimmung?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.zeit.de%2Fwirtschaft%2F2021-05%2Feuroparat-lobbyismus-korruption-deutschland-kritik |access-date=2023-07-24 |website=www.zeit.de |archive-date=2023-07-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725020000/https://www.zeit.de/zustimmung?url=https://www.zeit.de/wirtschaft/2021-05/europarat-lobbyismus-korruption-deutschland-kritik |url-status=dead }}</ref> Stricter rules are scheduled to come into effect on January 1, 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Müller |first=Volker |title=Deutscher Bundestag - Vorlagen zur Änderung des Lobbyregistergesetzes überwiesen |url=https://www.bundestag.de/dokumente/textarchiv/2023/kw25-de-lobbyregister-953426 |access-date=2023-07-24 |website=Deutscher Bundestag |language=de}}</ref>

==== Italy ====
Italy does not have lobbying legislation at the national level nowadays, even though there have been proposals by lawmakers over the years. In 2016, the Chamber of Deputies added an addendum that introduced a Regulation of interest representation. The Regulation expired in late 2017, when the term of the sitting Parliament expired. With the rise of the new parliamentary term in 2018, the Regulation was not being readopted.<ref name="lexology.com">{{cite web | url=https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=91b9b64a-074e-4f05-9917-f26b1ae21128 | title=At a glance: Government lobbying in Italy | date=7 April 2021 }}</ref> At the subnational level, only six regions have legislations about lobbying: Tuscany (2002), Molise (2004), Abruzzo (2010), Calabria (2016), Lombardy (2016) and Puglia (2017). These regional legislations have similar structure, but only Tuscany took a step forward to implement this legislation and create a public register.<ref name="lexology.com"/>

In Italy, over the years, lobbies and power groups have obstructed the liberalization of markets and favored the protection of existing privileges. Despite various attempts to promote competition, such as the Law for the Market and Competition passed a year ago, the process has been riddled with delays, amendments and compromises that have weakened the law.
Pressure from various lobbies led to the deletion of several important provisions. For example, due to pressure from pharmacists, the sale of Band C drugs in supermarkets and para pharmacies was skipped. Other provisions removed include the portability of pension funds, the sale of boxes or garages worth less than one hundred thousand euros without a notarized deed, the protected energy market, and the Postal Service monopoly. In addition, the rule on RCA tariffs was withdrawn after protests from insurance companies, while the diatribe between taxi drivers and [[Uber]] was postponed for a separate measure.
Professional associations, such as lawyers and dentists, opposed measures that undermined their interests, such as the requirement for lawyers to have a quote or the requirement that dental companies be at least two-thirds owned by registered members. Other categories, such as hoteliers, called for a ban on [[Airbnb]] in the country.
The lack of competitive markets is one of the main reasons Italy has not experienced economic growth in recent years. However, pressure groups continue to defend their privileges, hindering [[economic liberalization]]. The [[International Monetary Fund]] study indicates that true liberalization could grow Italy's [[GDP]] in a few years, but lobbies seem to be able to prevent such changes.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.internazionale.it/opinione/gerhard-mumelter/2016/03/09/italia-lobby-legge-concorrenza | title=In Italia le lobby fanno fallire la legge sulla concorrenza | date=9 March 2016 }}</ref>

A 2016 study found evidence of significant indirect lobbying of then-Prime Minister [[Silvio Berlusconi]] through business proxies.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|title = Market-Based Lobbying: Evidence from Advertising Spending in Italy †|journal = American Economic Journal: Applied Economics|pages = 224–256|volume = 8|issue = 1|doi = 10.1257/app.20150042|first1 = Stefano|last1 = DellaVigna|first2 = Ruben|last2 = Durante|first3 = Brian|last3 = Knight|first4 = Eliana La|last4 = Ferrara|year = 2016|doi-access = free}}</ref> The authors document a significant pro-[[Mediaset]] (the mass media company founded and controlled by Berlusconi) bias in the allocation of advertising spending during Berlusconi's political tenure, in particularly for companies operating in more regulated sectors.<ref name=":0" />
Using advertising data from the Nielsen AdEx database, the behavior of companies buying advertising space on [[Mediaset]] television channels during Berlusconi's tenure as prime minister was analyzed. It is hypothesized that some companies are more likely to advertise on Mediaset channels when Berlusconi is in power, indicating a potential correlation between advertising behavior and political influence.

A model of the Italian television advertising market was developed, distinguishing between regulated firms (interested in government actions) and unregulated firms (less interested in specific public policy changes). The model predicts that advertising prices on Mediaset increase when Berlusconi is in power and that the mix of advertisers on Mediaset channels shifts toward regulated firms during his tenure.
To assess the impact of Berlusconi's political influence, industries were ranked according to their regulatory score, obtained from a survey of Italian economists. Highly regulated industries, such as telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, and manufacturing, showed a greater tendency to allocate a portion of their advertising budgets to Mediaset during Berlusconi's tenure. 
Despite higher prices for advertising space on Mediaset channels during Berlusconi's tenure, companies continued to advertise, suggesting that they expect significant political benefits from supporting the network. Mediaset's advertising partners are estimated to have paid about 1.9 billion euros more during Berlusconi's three terms, indicating the expected political value of their indirect lobbying efforts.
This study provides evidence of market-based lobbying, in which companies strategically allocate their advertising budgets to gain political influence. It also highlights the additional conflict of interest that politicians with corporate holdings face and raises important questions about the role of money in politics beyond direct campaign contributions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aeaweb.org/|title=American Economic Association|website=www.aeaweb.org}}</ref>

Another relevant case of lobbying that has been going on for at least 16 years concerns owners of beach establishments. Beaches are the Italian State's properties: since 2022, owners have had to pay a fee of 2698 euros to keep a public concession of a beach establishment. This is an amount of money that would be paid back just by renting for three months 2 beach umbrellas for 15 euros each (and in many cases, the renting prices are higher). The Court of Accounts has declared an imbalance between the fee and the gains from the beach establishment.<ref>Consiglio dei Ministri. (3 November 2022). ''Letter from Giorgia Meloni to President Capacchione, Il Presidente del Consiglio dei Ministri.'' [https://www.mef.gov.it/inevidenza/documenti/NADEF_2018.pdf https://ww.mef.gov.it/inevidenza/documenti/NADEF_2018.pdf]</ref> Until 2009, according to a 1949 law, people who had public concessions had the right to keep them if there was no opposition from third parties. In 2009 this law was abolished under the menace of legal procedure from the EU for infraction of a 2006 directive, that established mandatory public procedures that were impartial and transparent. Anyhow, since then, governments continuously postponed any decision regarding modifying laws on public concessions for beach establishments. Under the government of Mario Draghi, the deadline for all concessions was established for 31 December 2023: anyhow, the new Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni assured in a letter of November 3, 2022, that "their government would defend the families that work in that sector",<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gentile Presidente Capacchione |url=https://www.mondobalneare.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/risposta-Meloni-Capacchione-Sib-balneari.pdf |access-date=14 October 2023 |website=www.mondobalneare.com}}</ref> and delayed the deadline of the concessions. Some politicians claim that the families involved in the issue represent a significant and influential number of electors.
<ref name="auto">{{cite web | url=https://www.corriere.it/dataroom-milena-gabanelli/concessioni-balneari-taxi-come-funziona-l-italia-lobby/70d827d2-6342-11ed-bcf5-ba13826ce8c8-va.shtml | title=Balneari e taxi, come funziona l'Italia delle lobby &#124; Milena Gabanelli | date=14 November 2022 }}</ref>

Finally, lobbying from taxi drivers represents a growing issue. The current situation in Italy regarding taxi services is regulated by Law No. 21 of 1992. According to this law, the responsibility for determining the number of taxi licenses, shifts, and fares is given to the municipalities. Taxi licenses are held by artisan business owners who have passed a driver's exam and are registered with the Chamber of Commerce. After holding a license for five years, reaching the age of 60, or due to illness, license holders can transfer their license to someone else upon indicating their preference to the municipality. In case of death, the license can be passed to one of the heirs or their designated individuals.
Italy has an average of one taxi for every 2,000 inhabitants, whereas countries like France and Spain have ratios of 1,160 and 1,028 taxis per 2,000 inhabitants, respectively. This suggests that Italy has a relatively lower number of taxis available compared to its population.
In August 2019, the then Transport Councillor Marco Granelli acknowledged the need to increase the number of taxi licenses by 450 to meet the demand. Data showed that a significant percentage of calls for taxis were going unanswered during peak hours and weekends. However, the issue was put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and it remains uncertain when it will be addressed.<ref name="auto"/>

==== Romania ====
Romanian legislation does not include an express regulation on lobbying activity. The legislative proposals initiated by various parliamentarians have not been finalized.

Attempts to regulate lobbying in Romania have appeared in the context of the fight against corruption. Anti-corruption strategies adopted in 2011 and 2004 mentions the purposes of the elaboration of a draft law on lobbying, as well as ensuring transparency in the decision-making activity.

In 2008 and 2011, the emphasis was mainly on transparency in the decision-making activity of the public authorities, regulation of lobbying activities no longer appeared as a distinct or expressly mentioned objective.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Lobby în Romania vs. Lobby în UE |publisher=Institutul European din România |year=2015 |isbn=978-606-8202-46-4 |location=Bucharest |pages=67 |language=Romanian}}</ref>

The Romanian Lobby Registry Association (ARRL) was founded in June 2010 to popularize and promote lobbying activity. ARRL is a non-profit legal entity that works under private law.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Asociatia Registrul Român de Lobby – Bun venit pe pagina Asociaţiei Registrul Român de Lobby!|url=http://registruldelobby.ro/|access-date=2021-11-05|website=registruldelobby.ro}}</ref>

The majority of lobbying companies represent non-governmental organizations which activities include education, ecology, fundamental freedoms, health, consumer rights etc. Other entities that deal with lobby practice are multinational companies, Romanian companies, law firms and specialized lobby firms.