Lobbying in the 21st Century

Transparency, Integrity and Access

Report

20 May 2021

Annex A. Detailed transparency and integrity standards on lobbying activities

	Source	Public officials and institutions targeted by lobbying activities	Type of decisions targeted
Australia	Lobbying Code of Conduct (Article 3 "Definitions")	"Government representative": Minister, Parliamentary Secretary, ministerial staff, civil servant, heads of agencies and persons engaged as contractors or consultants by an Australian Government Agency, member of the armed forces.	1. The making or amendment of legislation; 2. The development or amendment of a Government policy or program; 3. The awarding of a Government contract or grant; 4. The allocation of funding.
Australia	Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Act 2018 (Article 12 “Activity for the purpose of political or governmental influence”)	Persons, entities, structures or processes that are part of Australia’s federal political and governmental architecture – including a federal election or vote, a federal government decision, a proceeding of either House of the Parliament, a registered political party, an independent Member of Parliament, or an independent candidate in a federal election.	1. A process in relation to a federal election or a designated vote; 2. A process in relation to a federal government decision (including decisions made the Executive Council, the Cabinet or a committee of the Cabinet, a Minister or Ministers); 3. Proceedings of a House of the Parliament; 4. A process in relation to a registered political party; 5. A process in relation to a candidate in a federal election who is not endorsed by a registered political party. Influencing the public, or a section of the public, in relation to these process and proceedings, is also covered by the Act.
Austria	Federal Law No. 64/2012 on the Transparency of Lobbying and Advocacy Activities (Article 1 “Scope of Application” and Article 4 “Definitions”)	The law is not explicit about which branches of the state are covered but it does mention decision-making processes in the establishment or enforcement of legislation at federal, regional and local level.	Decision-making processes in the establishment or enforcement of legislation.
Belgium	Rules of Procedure of the Chamber of Representatives (Article 163ter-3)	Chamber of the House of Representatives.	The development or implementation of policies or the decision-making processes of the Chamber of the House of Representatives.
Brazil	No transparency requirements	No transparency requirements	No transparency requirements
Canada	The Lobbying Act (Articles 2, 5 and 7)	Federal Public Office Holders (POHs) are: 1. Any officers or employees of Her Majesty in right of Canada; 2. Members of the Senate or the House of Commons or members of their staff; 3. Governor in Council appointees, other than a judge receiving a salary under the Judges Act or the lieutenant governor of a province; 4. Officers, directors or employees of any federal board, commission or other tribunal as defined in the Federal Courts Act; and 5. Members of the Canadian Armed Forces and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Federal Designated Public Office Holders (DPOHs) are: 1. All Members of the Senate and the House of Commons; 2. Prime Minister, Ministers, Ministers of State; 3. Staff working in the offices Ministers and Ministers of State; 4. Some staff in the Office of the Leader of the Opposition; 5. Deputy Ministers, Associate and Assistant Deputy Ministers, and those of comparable rank; 7. Senior positions in the Armed Forces; 8. Comptroller General of Canada; 9. Select positions at the Privy Council Office.	1.The development of any legislative proposal by the Government of Canada or by a member of the Senate or the House of Commons; 2. The introduction, defeat or amendment of any Bill or resolution;, 3. The making or amendment of any regulation; 4. The development or amendment of any policy or program of the Government of Canada; 5. The awarding of any grant, contribution or other financial benefit; 6. The awarding of any contract.
Chile	Act No. 20/730 regulating lobbying and representations of private interests to authorities and civil servants (Articles 3, 4 and 5)	“Passive subjects”: 1. Ministers, Undersecretaries, Heads of services, Ambassadors; 2. Members of Parliament and their advisors; 3. Regional directors of public services, Governors, regional ministerial secretaries, regional Councillors, Mayors, executive secretaries of regional councils, municipal secretaries, 3. Commanders in Chief of the Armed Forces, General Director of the Carabineros, General Director of the Investigative Police; 4. Various senior civil servants such as Central Bank Members, the Comptroller General.	1. Elaboration, enactment, modification, repeal or rejection of administrative acts, bills and laws, and also of decisions taken by passive subject; 2. Drafting, processing, approval, modification, repeal or rejection of agreements, declarations or decisions of the National Congress or its members, including its commissions; 3. Entering into, modifying or terminating, in any capacity, contracts entered into by passive subjects; 4. Design, implementation and evaluation of policies, plans and programmes.
Colombia	No transparency requirements	No transparency requirements	No transparency requirements
Costa Rica	No transparency requirements	No transparency requirements	No transparency requirements
Czech Republic	No transparency requirements	No transparency requirements	No transparency requirements
Denmark	No transparency requirements	No transparency requirements	No transparency requirements
Estonia	No transparency requirements	No transparency requirements	No transparency requirements
Finland	No transparency requirements	No transparency requirements	No transparency requirements
France	Act No. 2016/1691 on transparency, the fight against corruption and the modernisation of the economy (Article 25)	1. Staff of the President of the Republic; 2. Members of Governments and members of ministerial cabinets; 3. Members of the National Assembly and the Senate and their staff; 4. Presidents of the National Assembly and the Senate and their staff; 5. Staff members of the National Assembly and the Senate; 6. Members of the board and sanctions committees of certain independent administrative and public authorities; 7. Directors-General and Secretaries-General of certain independent administrative and public authorities; 8. Public officials appointed in the Council of Ministers 9. Heads of unit and deputy directors in central administrations; 10. Local executive officials.	1. Laws, including constitutional ones, ordinances and regulatory acts; 2. Public procurement contracts, when the value of the contract is equal or greater than European thresholds; concession contracts, when the estimated value of the contract is equal or greater to European thresholds; contracts giving temporary authorisation to occupy the public domain; contracts for the transfer of immovable property belonging to the private domain of the State or its public establishments; 3. Deliberations of local authorities approving the creation of a single-purpose mixed economy company. 4. “Other public decisions” are taken into account: individual decisions relating to the issue, modification, withdrawal or renewal of an accreditation, an authorisation, a certification, a derogation, a waiver, an exemption, an inclusion in a list, a license, a permit, a title, or a financial benefit of any kind; individual appointment decisions; acts taken by independent administrative and public authorities, when they have a certain normative effect.
Germany	Law introducing a Lobby register for lobbying vis-à-vis the German Bundestag and the Federal government (Article 1 “Scope of application”)	Bundestag: organs, members, parliamentary parties or groups; Federal Government: Parliamentary State Secretaries, State Secretaries, Heads of Departments and Heads of Sub-Departments.	Decision-making process of the organs, members, parliamentary parties or groups of the German Bundestag; decision-making process of the Federal Government.
Greece	No transparency requirements	No transparency requirements	No transparency requirements
Hungary	Government Decree 50/2013 (II. 25.) on the system of integrity management at public administration bodies and the procedural rules of receiving lobbyists (Article 1)	Public administration bodies under the control or supervision of the Government or its members and the employees of such bodies, with the exception of law enforcement agencies and the Military National Security Service.	The Government Decree does not specify the types of decision targeted.
Ireland	Regulation of Lobbying Act of 2015 (Article 5 “Meaning of carrying on lobbying activities” and Article 6 “Designated public officials”)	“Designated public officials”: 1. Ministers and Ministers of State; 2. Members of Parliament, Members of the European Parliament for Irish constituencies; 3. Members of local authorities; 4. Special advisers to Ministers and Ministers of State; 5. Certain categories of public servants as prescribed	“Relevant matter”: any matter relating to: 1. The initiation, development or modification of any public policy of any public program; 2. The preparation or amendment of an enactment; 3. The award of any grant, loan or other financial support, contract or other agreement, or of any license or other authorisation involving public funds. …other than the implementation of any such policy, programme, enactment or award or any matter of a technical nature only.
Iceland	Act No. 64/2020 (Prime Minister‘s bill) on Conflicts of Interest in the Government Offices of Iceland (Article 1 “Aim and Scope”)	“Persons with top executive functions within the Government Offices of Iceland“: 1. Ministers; 2. Permanent secretaries; 3. Directors-general; 4. Ambassadors in the Government Offices of Iceland; 5. Ministerial advisors.	No definition
Israel	Knesset Law, 57-541994, Chapter 12 (Regulating the actions of lobbyists”, 65)	Members of the Knesset (MKs)	1. Bills and secondary legislation in the Knesset or its committees; 2. Decisions of the Knesset and its committees; 3. The appointment or election of a person for a position by the Knesset or by an organisation of which the Knesset is a representative member.
Italy	Regulation of interest representation activities in the offices of the Chamber of Deputies, and associated guidelines (Article 1)	Members of the Chamber of Deputies	The Regulation does not specify the types of decision targeted.
Japan	No transparency requirements	No transparency requirements	No transparency requirements
Korea	No transparency requirements	No transparency requirements	No transparency requirements
Latvia	Cabinet Regulation No. 1 "Values of State Administration and Fundamental Principles of Ethics" (Chapter 1 “General Provisions”)	Civil servants and employees of the State Administration.	Drafting or taking of decisions.
Lithuania	Law No. VIII-1749 on Lobbying Activities (Article 2 “Basic concepts of the Law)	"Lobbied persons": President of the Republic, Members of the Seimas, Government of the Republic of Lithuania, Prime Minister, Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Chancellors of the Government, ministries, political parties, mayors, members of municipal councils, directors of municipal administrations and their deputies, civil servants and other persons who participate in the preparation, consideration and adoption of draft legal acts.	Preparation, consideration and adoption of legal acts.
Luxembourg	Code of Conduct for Members of Parliament relating to financial interests and conflicts of interest (Article 5 “Rules on Lobbying”)	Members of the Chamber of Deputies.	No definition
Mexico	Rules of Procedure of the Chamber of Deputies (Articles 263) Rules of Procedure of the Senate (Articles 298)	Management bodies and committees of the Senate or senators contacted individually or jointly. Any Member of the Chamber of deputies, body or authority of the Chamber, contacted individually or jointly	The Rules of Procedure do not specify the type of decisions targeted.
Netherlands	N/A	The voluntary register covers the House of Representatives.	No definition
New Zealand	No transparency requirements	No transparency requirements	No transparency requirements
Norway	No transparency requirements	No transparency requirements	No transparency requirements
Peru	Law No. 28024 regulating the management of interests in the public administration, and associated decrees (Article 4 “Public decision” and Article 5 “Officials with public decision-making capacity”)	“Officials with public decision-making capacity”: 1. President of the Republic; 2. First and Second Vice-Presidents of the Republic, when they are responsible for the Presidential Office; 3. Members of Congress; 4. Ministers, vice-ministers, secretaries-general, national directors and directors-general, prefects and sub-prefects, councillors and other senior civil servants; 5. Chair and members of the Judicial Power’s Executive Council, including its Director-General; 6. Regional governors and vice-governors, members of Regional Councils and regional managers; 7. Mayors, aldermen and directors of the Metropolitan Municipality of Lima and provincial municipalities and districts; 8. Chairpersons and members of state-owned companies’ board of directors, as well as their managing directors; 9. Certain civil servants with decision-making powers.	Public decision: any process by which the public administration establishes policies or decision-making of any nature that have an economic, social or political significance of an individual or collective nature, or that affect interests in the various sectors of society. For this purpose, a process leading to a public decision is considered to be the following: 1. The study of bills by the Ordinary, Special and Permanent Commissions of the Congress of the Republic; 2. The debate of opinions on draft laws and the approval, observation and promulgation of laws, and their repeal; 3. The drafting, approval and promulgation of Legislative Decrees and Emergency Decrees, and their repeal; 4. The formation, promulgation of Supreme Decrees, Supreme Resolutions, Ministerial Resolutions, Vice-Ministerial Resolutions and Directorial Resolutions, as the case may be, and their repeal; 4. The elaboration, adoption or approval of policies, programmes, projects and institutional positions; 5. The conclusion of agreements and contracts; 6. The drafting, approval or repeal of resolutions of the heads of public administration bodies or entities; 7. The drafting, approval or repeal of regional ordinances, regional council agreements, regional decrees and resolutions as well as municipal ordinances, decrees and resolutions; 8. The acts of internal administration carried out by the bodies of the public administration entities.
Poland	Act on Legislative and Regulatory Lobbying (Article 2)	"Public authorities"	Law-making process.
Portugal	No transparency requirements	No transparency requirements	No transparency requirements
Romania	Memorandum for creating a Unique Interest Groups Transparency Register (Section 3 “Persons targeted by RUTI”)	“Decision makers of the central executive government”: 1. Prime minister, Head of the Chancellery of the Prime Minister and Secretary-General of the Government; 2. Ministers, Secretaries of State, State counsellors; 4. Senior officials from certain institutions or central bodies of the administration subordinated to the Government.	Public policy: funding program, an intention to develop a strategy, any form of regulatory act, public events with major impact.
Slovak Republic	No transparency requirements	No transparency requirements	No transparency requirements
Slovenia	Integrity and Prevention of Corruption Act of 2010 (Article 4 “Definition of terms”)	"Lobbied persons": officials and public servants employed in State bodies and local community bodies, or who work with holders of public authority responsible for decision making, or who participate in the discussion and adoption of regulations, other general documents and decisions. Officials include deputies of the National Assembly, members of the National Council, the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister, ministers, state secretaries, judges of the Constitutional Court, other judges, state attorneys, officials in local communities, members of the European Parliament from Slovenia, officials from Slovenia working in European and international institutions, officials of the Bank of Slovenia.	Decisions made by State and local community bodies, and holders of public authority in discussing and adopting regulations and other general documents. Decisions made by State bodies, the bodies and administrations of local communities, and holders of public authority on matters other than those which are subject to judicial and administrative proceedings and other proceedings carried out according to the regulations governing public procurement, as well as proceedings in which the rights and obligations of individuals are decided upon.
Spain	Code of Conduct for Members of the Congress and the Senate (Article 6)	The Code of Conduct covers Members of the Congress and the Senate.	The Code of Conduct does not specify the types of decisions targeted.
Sweden	No transparency requirements	No transparency requirements	No transparency requirements
Switzerland	No transparency requirements	No transparency requirements	No transparency requirements
Turkey	No transparency requirements	No transparency requirements	No transparency requirements
United Kingdom	Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act (Article 2 “Meaning of consultant lobbying”)	1. Ministers of the Crown; 2. Permanent Secretaries.	1. The development, adoption or modification of any proposal of the government to make or amend primary or subordinate legislation; 2. The development, adoption or modification of any other policy of the government; 3. The making, giving or issuing by the government of, or the taking of any other steps by, the government, in relation to (i) any contract, or other agreement; (ii) any grant or other financial assistance, or (iii) any licence or other authorisation; or (iv) the exercise of any other function of the government.
United States	Lobbying Disclosure Act (Section 3 “Definitions”)	Covered Executive Branch Official: the President, the Vice President, Officers and employees of the Executive Office of the President, White House Staff, cabinet secretaries and their deputies, senior employees in government bodies. Covered Legislative Branch Official: a Member of Congress, an elected officer of either the House or the Senate, an employee, or any other individual functioning in the capacity of an employee, who works for a Member, committee, leadership staff of either the Senate or House, a joint committee of Congress, a working group or caucus organized to provide services to Members.	1. Formulation, modification or adoption of federal laws (including legislative proposals); 2. Formulation, modification or adoption of a rule, regulation, executive order or any other program, policy or position of the United States Government; 3. Administration or execution of a federal program or policy (including the negotiation, award or administration of a contract, grant, loan, permit or federal license); or 4. Nomination or confirmation of a person for a position subject to confirmation by the Senate.
United States	Foreign Agents Registration Act (United States Code § 611c)	Any U.S. Government official or the American public.	U.S. domestic or foreign policy or the political or public interests of a foreign government or foreign political party.
EU	Agreement between the European Parliament and the European Commission on the transparency register for organisations and self-employed individuals engaged in EU policy-making and policy implementation (Section 3, “Scope of the Register”)	Members and their assistants, officials or other staff of the EU institutions.	Formulation or implementation of policy and the decision-making processes of the EU institutions.
	Commission Decision of 25 November 2014 on the publication of information on meetings held between Members of the Commission and organisations or self-employed individuals (Article 1) Commission Decision of 25 November 2014 on the publication of information on meetings held between Directors-General of the Commission and organisations or self-employed individuals (Article 2)	Commissioners and those directly responsible for advising them (Cabinet members, Directors-General and Heads of Service) ‘Director-General’ means Director-General or Head of Service of the Commission.	Issues relating to policy-making and implementation in the Union.
	Rules of procedure of the European Parliament (Rule 11 Members’ financial interests and Transparency register)	1. Members of Parliament; 2. Rapporteurs, shadow rapporteurs, and committee chairs of the European Parliament.	The Rules of procedure cover meetings with interest representatives falling under the scope of the Transparency register.

Notes: definitions for the European Union refer to the current Agreement between the European Parliament and the European Commission on the transparency register for organisations and self-employed individuals engaged in EU policy-making and policy implementation (2014). The official signature and entry into force of the new agreement between the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission is foreseen for the spring of 2021, following formal adoption by the three institutions.

Source: OECD 2020 Survey on Lobbying and additional research by the OECD Secretariat.

	Source	Definition of “Lobbyists”	Exemptions
Australia	Lobbying Code of Conduct (Article 3)	Lobbyist: any person, company or organisation who conducts lobbying activities on behalf of a third-party client or whose employees conduct lobbying activities on behalf of a third-party client.	The following entities are not considered as lobbyists: 1. Charitable and religious organisations; 2. Non-profit associations or organisations constituted to represent the interests of their members; 3. Individuals making representations on behalf of relatives or friends about their personal affairs; 4. Members of trade delegations visiting Australia; 5. Persons who are registered under an Australian Government scheme regulating the activities of members of that profession (e.g. registered tax agents, customs brokers, company auditors and liquidators) provided that their dealings with Government representatives are part of their normal day to day work; 6. Service providers (such as lawyers, doctors, accountants) who make occasional representations to the Government on behalf of clients in a way that is incidental to the provision of their professional services. However, if a significant or regular part of the services offered involves lobbying activities on behalf of clients of that firm, the firm and the person offering those services must register and identify the clients for whom they carry out lobbying activities.
Australia	Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Act 2018 (Sections 10, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30)	Persons undertaking registrable activities on behalf of a foreign principal for the purpose of political or governmental influence must register under the scheme. A foreign principal is: 1. A foreign government (the government or an authority of the government of a foreign country or of a part of a foreign country, a foreign local government body or foreign regional government body); 2. A foreign political organisation (foreign political party and foreign organisation that exists primarily to pursue political objectives); or 3. A foreign government related entity (a person, other than an individual, who is related to a foreign government or a foreign political organisation. This includes companies and other entities in which a foreign government or foreign political organisation is in position to exercise total or substantial control over the company). 4. A foreign government related individual (an individual, who is neither an Australian citizen nor a permanent Australian resident, accustomed or under an obligation to act in accordance with the directions, instructions or wishes of a foreign principal; an individual on which a foreign principal is in a position to exercise total or substantial control). Former Cabinet Ministers acting on behalf of a foreign principal have specific obligations: they must register any activity they undertake on behalf of a foreign principal unless an exemption applies. This extends beyond the categories of ‘registrable activity’ covered by the scheme. This includes circumstances where a former Cabinet Minister is employed by (or acts in any capacity for) a foreign principal at any time following their departure from their role as Cabinet Minister. This is a lifetime obligation. Similarly, recent designated position holders (Ministers, Members of Parliament, a member of the staff of a Minister and whose position is at or above the level of Senior Advisor, an Agency Head or deputy Agency Head or a holder of an equivalent position, Ambassadors or High Commissioners in a country or place outside Australia) must register any activity they undertake on behalf of a foreign principal where, in undertaking the activities, they contribute experience, knowledge, skills or contacts gained in their former position. This includes circumstances where the recent designated position holder is employed by (or acts in any capacity for) a foreign principal at any time following their departure from their role. This obligation extends for 15 years from the date the recent designated position holder leaves the relevant position.	Exemptions from registration (Sections 5, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30) 1. Humanitarian aid or assistance: a person undertaking a registrable activity on behalf of a foreign principal and that activity primarily related to provide humanitarian aid or assistance. 2. Legal advice or representation: a person undertaking a registrable activity on behalf of a foreign principal and the activity is, primarily related to, or is incidental to: (i) providing legal advice; (ii) legal representation in judicial, criminal or civil inquiries, investigations or proceedings; or (iii) legal representation related to government administration processes involving a foreign principal. 3. Members of Parliament and statutory office holders: a person undertaking a registrable activity on behalf of a foreign principal and, while the activity is being undertaken, the person holds a position or appointment as a member of the Australian Parliament, a member of a state Parliament territory Legislative Assembly, or an office bearer under a law of the Commonwealth, state or territory. 4. Diplomatic, consular and similar activities: a person undertaking a registrable activity on behalf of a foreign government and the activity is within the scope of the person’s function as a diplomatic or consular official. 5. United Nations officials: United Nationals personnel or individuals formally associated with the UN who are undertaking a registrable activity on behalf of a foreign principal. 6. Religion: a person undertaking a religious activity on behalf of a foreign principal and that activity is undertaken in good faith. 7. Foreign government employees: a person undertaking a registrable activity on behalf of a foreign principal and does so while employees as an officer of a foreign government and the activity is undertaken in the name of the foreign government. 8. Commercial or business pursuits – directors and employees of a foreign government related entity: this exemption applies where the person undertakes an activity on behalf of a foreign government related entity, the activity is a commercial or business pursuit, and the person undertakes the activity in or under the same or a substantially similar name to the foreign government-related entity. 9. Industry representative bodies: a registrable activity is undertaken in the course of representing the collective interests of members (both foreign and domestic) of an industry representative body. The exemption does not apply to representative groups which are foreign entities or where the membership does not include Australian entities. 10. Personal representations in government administrative processes: individuals who make representations on behalf of a foreign principal in relation to a government administrative process that involves the foreign principal or matters affecting the personal welfare of the foreign principal. 11. Registered charities: the exemption applies to registered charities that undertake certain registrable activities on behalf of a foreign principal in pursuit of the charity’s purpose. The exemption does not apply to disbursement activities. 12. Artistic purposes: a person undertaking a registrable activity on behalf of a foreign principal and the activity relates to the arts or to a person’s artistic purpose. 13. Certain registered organisations: where an association of employees or an enterprise association that is registered un the Fair Work Act 2009 undertakes a registrable activity on behalf of a foreign principal. 14. Activities of members of certain professions: where a tax agent, a customs broker or a liquidator or receiver undertakes a registrable activity on behalf of a foreign principal in the usual course of undertaking their profession. 15. Employees and contractors engaged under the Members of Parliament (Staff) Act 1984 and Commonwealth public officials: the exemption applies where the person undertakes a registrable activity within the scope of the person’s ordinary or usual duties, and at the time the activity is undertaken the identity of the foreign principal is made apparent or is disclosed to all persons with whom the person is dealing. 16. Persons engaging in a government decision-making process as required by law: a person undertaking general political lobbying on behalf of a foreign principal for the purpose of political or governmental influence, and the activity relates to a government decision-making process in which the foreign principal is required by law to participate.
Austria	Lobbying and Interest Representation Transparency Law (Article 4)	Lobbying firms: companies whose business purpose is to carry out lobbying activities for clients in return for payment; Companies employing company lobbyists: companies employing staff for the purpose of lobbying on their own behalf on condition that a significant amount of his/her responsibilities is taken up by lobbying activities; Self-governing bodies: bodies established by law to represent the professional or common interests of its members. This includes the Chamber of Commerce and Labour and professional associations; Advocacy groups: legal associations of private individuals.	The following groups are excluded from the definition (and are not obliged to be listed in the register): 1. Political parties and their affiliated organisations; 2. Religious groups; 3. The Austrian Association of Municipalities and the Austrian Association of Cities, including their social security institutions.
Belgium	Rules of Procedure of the Chamber of Representatives (Art. 163ter-2)	Persons representing the following institutions: 1. Specialised consulting firms, law firms; and freelance consultants; 2. Internal representatives, professional groups and associations, and trade unions; 3. Non-governmental organisations; 4. Think tanks, research bodies and university institutions; 5. Organisations representing churches and religious communities; 6. Organisations representing local, regional and municipal authorities and other public or semi-public entities.	Specific exemptions apply to certain activities conducted by the actors covered by the register (see Annex Table A A.3)
Brazil	No definition	No definition	No definition
Canada	Lobbying Act (Articles 2, 5 and 7)	Consultant lobbyists: 1. An individual who communicates with a federal public office holder, for payment, on behalf of a client (i.e. another individual, a company or an organization); 2. An individual who arranges a meeting between a public office holder and any other person. In house Lobbyists” (Corporations and Organisations): Employee of a corporation or an organisation who communicates with public office holders on behalf of their employer, any subsidiary of the employer or any corporation of which the employer is a subsidiary. The most senior paid employee is responsible for filing a registration for a corporation or organisation. Organisations include: 1. A business, trade, industry, professional or voluntary organisation; 2. A trade union or labour organisation; 3. A chamber of commerce or board of trade; 4. A partnership, trust, association, charitable society, coalition or interest group; 5. A government, other than the Government of Canada; and 6. A corporation without share capital incorporated to pursue, without financial gain to its members, objects of a national, provincial, patriotic, religious, philanthropic, charitable, scientific, artistic, social, professional or sporting character or other similar objects.	For consultant lobbyists, the law only applies to those who carry out lobbying activities in return for payment, while lobbying by volunteers and private individuals do not fall within its scope. For in-house lobbyists, the activities conferring the status of lobbyist must make up a major part of their duties (the threshold is 20%, calculated in full-time equivalent).
Chile	Act regulating lobbying and representations of private interests to authorities and civil servants (Article 2)	Active subjects – lobbyists: natural or legal persons, Chilean or foreign, who carry out remunerated activities representing a particular interest to influence decisions taken by passive subjects. Active subjects – managers of particular interests: natural or legal persons, Chilean or foreign, who carry out unpaid activities representing a particular interest to influence decisions taken by passive subjects.	Specific exemptions apply to certain activities conducted by the actors covered by the register (see Annex Table A A.3)
Colombia	No definition	No definition	No definition
Costa Rica	No definition	No definition	No definition
Czech Republic	No definition	No definition	No definition
Denmark	No definition	No definition	No definition
Estonia	No definition	No definition	No definition
Finland	No definition	No definition	No definition
France	Law on transparency, the fight against corruption and the modernisation of the economy (Article 25)	Interest representatives - organisations: executives, employees or members of legal persons under private law who communicate with public officials with the aim to influence public decisions. These organisations include: 1. Civil and commercial companies; 2. Law firms and consulting firms, 3. Professional organisations; 4. Trade unions and chambers of commerce; 5. Non-governmental organisations; 6. Think tanks, research institutes, foundations; 7. Public bodies conducting an industrial and commercial activity. Interest representatives – self-employed individuals: natural persons who are not employed by a legal person – self-employed lawyer, lawyer working in an unincorporated entity, independent consultant – who initiative communications with public officials with the aim to influence public decisions.	Specific exemptions apply to certain activities conducted by the actors covered by the register (See Annex Table A A.3)
Germany	Law introducing a Lobby register for lobbying vis-à-vis the German Bundestag and the Federal government (Article 1-4)	Interest representatives are all natural or legal persons, partnerships or other organisations, including in the form of networks, platforms or other forms of collective action, which themselves carry out or commission interest representation activities.	The following organisations are excluded from the definition: 1. Persons who hold a public office or mandate; 2. Employers’ or employees’ associations; 3. Political parties; 4. Institutions promoting socio-political and democratic education work (political foundations); 5. Organisations promoting foreign cultural and educational policies (insofar as they are institutionally supported with funds from the federal budget); 6. Religious organisations; 7. Municipal umbrella organisations; 8. National minority organisations. Specific exemptions also apply to certain activities conducted by the actors covered by the register (see Annex Table A A.3)
Greece	No definition	No definition	No definition
Hungary	Government Decree 50/2013 on the system of integrity management at public administration bodies and the procedural rules of receiving lobbyists (II. 25.)	Lobbyists are defined as “persons outside the state organisation” but no further definition is provided.	The Government Decree does not specify exemptions.
Ireland	Regulation of Lobbying Act (Article 5)	Lobbyists include the following actors who communicate directly or indirectly about a relevant matter with a designated public official: 1. An employer with more than 10 employees where the communications are made on its behalf; 2. A representative body with at least one employee communicating on behalf of its members and the communication is made by a paid employee or office holder of the body 3. An advocacy body with at least one employee that exists primarily to take up particular issues and a paid employee or office holder of the body is communicating on such issues; 4. A third party being paid to communicate on behalf of a client who fits into one of the preceding three categories; 5. Any person communicating about the development or zoning of land.	Specific exemptions apply to certain activities conducted by the actors covered by the register (see Annex Table A A.3)
Iceland	Prime Minister‘s bill on Conflicts of Interest in the Government Offices of Iceland (Article 1)	“Lobbyists” are individuals who communicate with authorities on behalf of private parties and seek to influence them commercially.	Specific exemptions apply to certain activities conducted by the actors covered by the register (see Annex Table A A.3)
Israel	Knesset Law, Chapter 12 (Article 66)	A lobbyist is a person who, through engagement or for compensation, takes actions on behalf of a client to persuade Members of the Knesset (MKs) with regards to bills and secondary legislation in the Knesset or its committees, decisions of the Knesset and its committees, and the appointment or election of a person for a position by the Knesset or by an organisation of which the Knesset is a representative member.	1. A person who, in the course of his/her work, takes such actions on behalf of his/her employer; 2. A person who holds a position under law in the civil service, in a local authority or in a corporation established by law, and takes such actions within the framework of his/her position; 3. A person who represents an office holder or holds a position in a quasi-judicial proceedings before the Knesset or its committees
Italy	Regulation of interest representation activities in the offices of the Chamber of Deputies (Article 3) Resolution of the Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies on the “Discipline of the activity of representing interests in the premises of the Chamber of Deputies” (Articles 4 and 5)	Any natural or legal person who intends to carry out activities of interest representation towards Members of the Chamber of Deputies, whether of their own or of a client. This includes trade unions and employers’ associations, non-governmental organisations, businesses, trade associations, subjects specialising in professional representation of third party interests, professional associations, consumers’ associations.	1. Constitutional bodies and public administrations; 2. International and supranational organisations; 3. Diplomatic agents and consular officials; 4. Political parties and movements; 5. Religious denominations.
Japan	No definition	No definition	No definition
Korea	No definition	No definition	No definition
Latvia	Cabinet Regulation No. 1 "Values of State Administration and Fundamental Principles of Ethics" (Chapter 3 “Open Communication with Lobbyists”, Article 7)	A natural or legal person who upon his or her own initiative in his or her own interest or in the interests of other natural or legal persons communicates with a public employee or his//her institution in order to influence the drafting or taking of decisions.	Specific exemptions apply to certain activities conducted by the actors covered by the register (see Annex Table A A.3)
Lithuania	Law on Lobbying Activities (Articles 1 and 2)	A ‘Lobbyist’ means a natural person, legal entity or another organisation or a division thereof, engaged in lobbying activities. Clients of lobbying activities means natural or legal persons or any other organisation or division thereof that have concluded a written lobbying contract with a lobbyist or a legal person that has assigned or instructed its participant, member of the management body or employee to conduct lobbying activities.	A legal person or other organisations or division thereof that are a state or municipal institution or body, a state or municipal enterprise, a public institution in which the state or a municipality is the owner or shareholder, as well as the Bank of Lithuania, do not have the right to be a lobbyist. The Law does not apply to non-governmental organisations, political parties and religious groups/associations.
Luxembourg	Code of Conduct for Members of Parliament relating to financial interests and conflicts of interest (Article 5 “Rules on Lobbying”)	A definition of “lobbyist” is not provided.	A definition of “lobbyist” is not provided.
Mexico	Rules of Procedure of the Chamber of Deputies (Article 263) Rules of Procedure of the Senate (Articles 298)	[House of representatives] A lobbyist is an individual from outside the House who represents a natural person, a private or social body, and who carries out lobbying activities, for which it obtains a material or economic benefit. [Senate] Persons dedicated to promoting the legitimate interests of individuals, before the management bodies and committees of the Senate or before senators individually or jointly, with the purpose of influencing decisions.	The Rules of Procedure do not specify exemptions.
Netherlands	On the website of the House of Representatives (“Lobbyists”) section.	Advocates/lobbyists are: 1. Employees of public affairs and public relations firms; 2. Representatives of civil society organizations/industry associations/umbrella organisations; 3. Representatives of municipalities and provinces.	Registration is voluntary and no exemptions are specified.
New Zealand	No definition	No definition	No definition
Norway	No definition	No definition	No definition
Peru	Law regulating the management of interests in the public administration, and associated decrees (Article 7) Supreme Decree that approves the Regulation of Law No. 28024 - Law that regulates the management of interests in the public administration (Article 3)	“ Person who performs an interest management act”: natural or legal person, national or foreign, who conducts interest management actions on behalf of their own interests or the interests of third parties, in relation to public decisions to be adopted by officials with public decision-making capacity. Owners and managers of national or foreign media or their companies are prohibited from acting “managers of interest”	Specific exemptions apply to certain activities conducted by the actors covered by the register (see Annex Table A A.3)
Poland	Act on Legislative and Regulatory Lobbying (Article 2)	Professional lobbyist: natural person or legal person paid to carry on lobbying activities on behalf of or in the name of a third party.	The Act only provides transparency for professional lobbyists, and does not cover in-house lobbyists from other entities.
Portugal	No definition	No definition	No definition
Romania	Memorandum for creating a Unique Interest Groups Transparency Register (Part 3)	“Specialised groups” means any legally constituted group, based in Romania or carrying out activities in Romania, or being registered in another country, including: 1. Companies with legal personality; 2 Associations, foundations and federations; 3. Religious organisations; 4. Trade unions and employers’ organisations; 5. Chambers of commerce; 6. Local government associations. 7. Other legally constituted organisations. 8. Authorised persons, self-employed individuals and family businesses, and law firms.	The Memorandum does not specify exemptions.
Slovak Republic	No definition	No definition	No definition
Slovenia	Integrity and Prevention of Corruption Act of 2010 (Article 4)	“Lobbyist” means any person who carries out activities on behalf of interest groups, or a person who is engaged in lobbying and is employed in an interest group and lobbies on its behalf, or a person who is an elected or otherwise legitimate representative of this interest group. “Interest groups” means legal persons governed by private law, and other legally regulated forms of association of natural or legal persons, on behalf and for the account of which a lobbyist performs a lobbying activity.	Specific exemptions apply to certain activities conducted by the actors covered by the register (see Annex Table A A.3)
Spain	Code of Conduct for Members of the Congress and the Senate (Article 6)	Interest groups are natural or legal persons, or entities without legal personality, that communicates directly or indirectly with holders of public or elected office or their personnel in favour of private, public, or collective interests, seeking to modify or influence issues related to the drafting or modification of legislative initiatives. N:B. Though the Code includes a definition specifying targeted office holders, only Members of Parliament are required to make their agenda public.	The Code of Conduct does not specify exemptions.
Sweden	No definition	No definition	No definition
Switzerland	No definition	No definition	No definition
United Kingdom	Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act (Article 2)	“Consultant lobbyists” are persons who, in the course of a business and in return for payment, make communications on behalf of a person or persons, with Ministers of the Crown and permanent secretaries. Persons include companies, partnerships, and individuals. It does not matter whether the person to whom the communication is made, or the person making it, or both, are outside the United Kingdom when the communication is made.	Specific exemptions apply to certain activities conducted by the actors covered by the register (see Annex Table A A.3)
United States	Lobbying Disclosure Act (Article 10)	A lobbyist is any individual (1) who is either employed or retained by a client for financial or other compensation (2) whose services include more than one lobbying contact; and (3) whose lobbying activities constitute 20 percent or more of his or her time in services for that client over any three-month period. A client is any person or entity (any individual, corporation, company, foundation, association, labour organization, firm, partnership, society, joint-stock company, group of organizations, or state or local government) that employs or retains another person for financial or other compensation to conduct lobbying activities on behalf of that person or entity. An organization employing its own in-house lobbyist(s) is considered its own client for reporting purposes.	Specific exemptions apply to certain activities conducted by the actors covered by the register (see Annex Table A A.3)
United States	Foreign Agents Registration Act (United States Code § 611 and 613)	An “agent of a foreign principal” is any person who acts as an agent, representative, employee, or servant, or otherwise acts at the order, request, or under the direction or control of a “foreign principal” and does any of the following: 1. Engages within the United States in political activities, such as intending to influence any U.S. Government official or the American public regarding U.S. domestic or foreign policy or the political or public interests of a foreign government or foreign political party.; 2. Acts within the United States as a public relations counsel, publicity agent, information service employee, or political consultant; 3. Solicits, collects, disburses, or dispenses contributions, loans, money, or other things of value within the United States; 4. Represents within the United States the interests of a foreign principal before U.S. Government officials or agencies. A “foreign principal” can be a foreign government, a foreign political party, any person outside the United States (except U.S. citizens who are domiciled within the United States), and any entity organised under the laws of a foreign country or having its principal place of business in a foreign country. It can also include a foreign faction or body of insurgents whose legitimacy the United States government has yet to recognise.	An agent of a foreign principal may be exempt from FARA’s registration obligations if the agent’s activities fall within one of the following exemptions: 1. Diplomatic officers and diplomatic staff; 2. Certain registered foreign officials who are not U.S. citizens and are not public-relations counsels, publicity agents or information-service employees. 3. Bona fide commercial activity and other activity not serving predominantly a foreign interest; 4. Humanitarian fundraising; 5. Religious, scholastic, academic, fine arts, or scientific pursuits; 6. Certain activities relating to the defense of foreign governments vital to the United States defense; 7. Legal representation of a disclosed foreign principal before any court or law or agency of the United States government; 8. Properly registered parties under the Lobbying Disclosure Act.
EU	Agreement between the European Parliament and the European Commission on the transparency register for organisations and self-employed individuals engaged in EU policy-making and policy implementation (Article 3)	All organisations and self-employed individuals, irrespective of their legal status, engaged in activities, whether on-going or under preparation, carried out with the objective of directly or indirectly influencing the formulation or implementation of policy and the decision-making processes of the EU institutions, irrespective of where they are undertaken and of the channel or medium of communication used.	Activities of the social partners as participants in the social dialogue (trade unions, employers' associations, etc.) are not covered by the register where those social partners perform the role assigned to them in the Treaties.
EU	Commission Decisions of 25 November 2014 on the publication of information on meetings held between Members and Directors General of of the Commission and organisations or self-employed individuals (Article 2)	‘Organisation or self-employed individual’ means any organisation or individual, irrespective of their legal status, engaged in activities carried out with the objective of directly or indirectly influencing the formulation or implementation of policy and the decision-making processes of the institutions of the Union, irrespective of where these activities are undertaken and of the channel or medium of communication used.	The notion of "organisation or self-employed individual" does not include representatives of other Union institutions or bodies, national, regional and local authorities of Member States and of third countries or international organisations. However, it covers any association or network created to represent regions or other sub-national public authorities collectively. The Decision does not apply to: 1. Social partners at Union level in the context of the social dialogue; 2. Dialogue with churches, religious associations or communities, as well as with philosophical and non-confessional organisations. 3. Representatives of political parties.

Source: OECD 2020 Survey on Lobbying and additional research by the OECD Secretariat.

	Source	Definitions of lobbying activities and communications	Exemptions specified in the regulation
Australia	Lobbying Code of Conduct (Article 3)	“Lobbying activities” means communications with a Government representative in an effort to influence Government decision making. “Communications with a Government representative” includes oral, written and electronic communications.	1. Communications with a committee of the Parliament; 2. Communications with a Minister or Parliamentary Secretary in his or her capacity as a local Member or Senator in relation to non-ministerial responsibilities; 3. Communications in response to a call for submissions; 4. Petitions or communications of a grassroots campaign nature in an attempt to influence a Government policy or decision; 5. Communications in response to a request for tender; 6. Statements made in a public forum; or 7. Responses to requests by Government representatives for information.
Australia	Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Act 2018 (Sections 10 and 12)	Registrable activities include: 1. Parliamentary lobbying: lobbying a member of the Parliament or a person employed under section 13 or 20 od the Members of Parliament Staff Ac 1984. 2. General political lobbying: lobbying a Commonwealth public official; a Department, agency or authority of the Commonwealth, a registered political party, a candidate in a federal election. 3. Communications activity: a person undertakes communications activity if the person communicates or distributes information or material to the public or a section of the public. 4. Disbursement activity: distribution of money or things of value on behalf of a foreign principal. Lobbying means communicating, in any way, with a person or a group of persons for the purpose of influencing any process, decision or outcome; and representing the interests of a person, in any process. Persons undertaking registrable activities on behalf of a foreign principal for the purpose of political or governmental influence must register their activity. The term “political or governmental influence” covers activities whose sole or primary purpose, or a substantial purpose of the activity is to influence over any persons, entities, structures or processes that are part of Australia’s federal political and governmental architecture – including a federal election or vote, a federal government decision, a proceeding of either House of the Parliament, a registered political party, an independent Member of Parliament, or an independent candidate in a federal election.	See exemptions in Annex Table A A.2.
Austria	Law on Transparency of Lobbying and Advocacy Activities (Articles 2 and 4)	Activities by which direct influence is exercised on the Austrian legislature and administration via structured, organised contacts.	1. Pressure only exercised on public officials via the media without direct contact; 2. Activities of a functionary in the performance of his or her duties, 3. Activities of a person with which he/she pursues his/her own non-entrepreneurial interests, 4. The representation of the interests of a party or a participant involved in connection with administrative or judicial proceedings, 5. Legal advice and representation by lawyers, notaries, chartered accountants and other persons authorised to do so; 7. The representation of foreign policy interests in diplomatic or consular dealings, and 8. Activities carried out at the instigation of a functionary.
Belgium	Rules of Procedure of the Chamber of Representatives (Art. 163ter-2)	Lobbying activities are activities carried out with the aim of directly or indirectly influencing the development or implementation of policies or the Chamber's decision-making processes. All organisations and persons acting in a self-employed capacity, irrespective of their legal status, carrying out activities covered by the register, either in progress or in preparation, are expected to register.	1. Activities relating to the provision of legal and other professional advice to the extent that they: (a) Consist of advisory activities and contacts with public authorities, intended to inform a client on a general legal situation or on his specific legal situation or to advise him/her on the opportunity or admissibility of a specific legal or administrative procedure in the existing legal and regulatory environment; (b) Are advice provided to a client to help ensure that its activities comply with applicable law; (c) Consist of analyses and studies prepared for clients on the potential impact of any changes in legislation or regulations with regard to their legal situation or field of activity; (d) Consist of representation in conciliation or mediation proceedings aimed at preventing a dispute from arising, brought before a judicial or administrative authority; (e) Affect the exercise of a client's fundamental right to a fair trial, including the right of defence in administrative proceedings, such as the activities carried out by lawyers or any other professionals concerned. 2. If a company and its advisers are involved in a specific legal or administrative case or procedure as parties, any activity directly related to it and not aimed as such at changing the existing legal framework is not covered by the register. 3. The activities of social partners as actors of social dialogue, such as trade unions and employers' associations, are not covered by the register when these social partners assume the role assigned to them by law. 4. Activities responding to the direct and individual request of the House or a Member, such as ad hoc or regular requests for factual information, data or expertise, are not covered by the register.
Brazil	No definition	No definition	No definition
Canada	Lobbying Act (Articles 2, 5 and 7)	Three elements define lobbying. A individual is conducting a lobbying activity if he/she: 1. is paid by an employer or a client. 2. communicates directly (i.e. either in writing or orally) or indirectly (i.e. grass‑roots communication), with a federal public office holder. OR the individual arranges a meeting between a public office holder and any other person (consultant lobbyists only). 3. The individual communicates about one of the subjects specified in Annex Table A A.1. Grass‑roots lobbying occurs when, for payment and on behalf of a client or employer, individuals encourage members of the public to communicate with federal public office holders on registrable topics. Grass‑roots lobbying may include advertisements, mass letter and/or facsimile campaigns, telephone calls to public office holders, public demonstrations, use of websites or communication through social media tools such as Facebook or Twitter.	1. Any oral or written submission made to a committee of the Senate or House of Commons or of both Houses of Parliament or to any body or person having jurisdiction or powers conferred by or under an Act of Parliament, in proceedings that are a matter of public record; 2. Any oral or written communication made to a public office holder by an individual on behalf of any person or organisation with respect to the enforcement, interpretation or application of any Act of Parliament or regulation by that public office holder with respect to that person or organisation; or (c) any oral or written communication made to a public office holder by an individual on behalf of any person or organisation if the communication is restricted to a request for information.
Chile	Act regulating lobbying and representations of private interests to authorities and civil servants (Articles 2 and 6)	Lobbying activities means the management or remunerated activity carried out by natural or legal persons, Chilean or foreign, whose purpose is to promote, defend or represent any particular interest, in order to influence the decisions that, in the exercise of their functions, must be taken by passive subjects in accordance with the law, with respect to the acts and decisions regulated therein. Management of particular interests means management or unpaid activity carried out by natural or legal persons, Chilean or foreign, whose purpose is to promote, defend or represent any particular interest, in order to influence the decisions that, in the exercise of their functions, must be taken by passive subjects in accordance with the law with respect to the acts and decisions regulated therein. Hearing or meeting: The act of hearing in which the passive subject receives a lobbyist or manager of particular interests, either in person or virtually, by means of an audiovisual video conference, to discuss any of the regulated matters, at the time and in the manner that the passive subject decides. Conversations held by telephone or by means other than an audiovisual conference are not considered as hearing and meeting.	1.The proposals or requests made on the occasion of a meeting, activity or assembly of a public nature and those which are strictly related to the work in the field inherent to the representation activities carried out by a passive subject in the exercise of his duties. 2. Any statement, action or communication made by passive subjects in the exercise of their duties; 3.- Any request, verbal or written, made to ascertain the status of an administrative procedure; 4. Information given to an authority that has requested it expressly for the purpose of carrying out an activity or adopting a decision, within the scope of its competence. 5. Presentations made formally in an administrative procedure, provided that the adoption, modification or repeal of laws or regulations, nor the change of results of administrative or selection processes, is not requested. 6.Consultants contracted by public and parliamentary bodies, carried out by professionals and researchers from non-profit associations, corporations, foundations, universities, study centres and any another similar entity, as well as invitations from these institutions extend to any official of a State organ. 7. Declarations made or information given to a Congress committee, as well as the presence and verbal or written participation in any of them by professionals from the entities listed in the previous number (6), which, however, must be recorded by these committees. 8. Invitations from State officials and parliamentarians to participate in meetings of a technical nature for professionals of the entities indicated in number 6. 9. The defence in court, the sponsorship of judicial or administrative cases or participation as amicus curiae, where permitted, but only with regard to those actions that are part of the judicial or administrative proceedings. 10. Statements or communications made by a person directly concerned (or by their representatives) in the context of an administrative procedure or investigation. 11. Written presentations added to a file or oral interventions registered in a public hearing in an administrative procedure that allows the participation of the interested parties or third parties.
Colombia	No definition	No definition	No definition
Costa Rica	No definition	No definition	No definition
Czech Republic	No definition	No definition	No definition
Denmark	No definition	No definition	No definition
Estonia	No definition	No definition	No definition
Finland	No definition	No definition	No definition
France	Law on transparency, the fight against corruption and the modernisation of the economy (Article 18-2)	Three types of activities are considered as communications that may constitute lobbying activities: 1. A physical meeting, regardless of the context in which it takes place; 2. A telephone or video conference call; 3. Sending a letter, an email or a private message via an electronic communication service. When these activities are performed repeatedly over a short period of time, for the same purpose and addressed to the same category of public officials, they constitute a single communication. Lobbying activities must be conducted primarily (during the last six months, executives, employees or members of the organisation or the self-employed lobbyist have spent more than half of the time engaging in lobbying activities) or regularly (during the last twelve months, executives, employees or members of the organisation or the self-employed lobbyists have carried out more than ten influence actions).	The following activities are not considered as “communications”: 1. Public awareness campaigns or street demonstrations; 2. Legislative and regulatory monitoring; 3. A communication initiated by a public official (i.e. a lobbying activity only takes place when a lobbyist is the initiator of a communication with a public official); 4. All exchanges of information that occur between a legal person and a public official as part of the follow-up of a request for an individual decision, and that are not intended to affect the individual decision in question, cannot be considered as lobbying. 5. Communications that are limited to factual exchanges that are not likely to have the purpose of influencing a public decision are not considered as lobbying activities: (a) when an organisation requests factual information, accessible to any person, to a public official; (b) when an organisation asks a public official how to interpret a public decision in force; (c) when an organisation sends information to a public official on its functioning or activities, without any direct connection with a public decision.
Germany	Law introducing a Lobby register for lobbying vis-à-vis the German Bundestag and the Federal government (Article 1-3 and Article 2)	Interest representation means any contact for the purpose of directly or indirectly influencing the decision-making process of the organs, members, parliamentary groups or groups of the German Bundestag or for the purpose of directly or indirectly influencing the decision-making process of the Federal Government.	Interest representatives lobbying the German Bundestag do not have to register when they conduct the following activities: 1. The activities of natural persons who formulate exclusively personal interests with their submission; 2. Raising concerns of an exclusively local nature, provided that no more than two constituencies are directly affected; 3. Submitting a petition in accordance with Article 17 of the Basic Law; 4. Attending public hearings of Parliamentary committees, or other public events of the organs, members, parliamentary parties or groups of the German Bundestag; 5. Responding to direct and individual requests from the organs, members, parliamentary parties or groups of the German Bundestag for factual information, data or expertise; Interest representatives lobbying the Federal Government do not have to register when they conduct the following activities: 1. Making an access to information request; 2. Making a citizen's request; 3. Participating in visiting programmes, lectures, conferences and other public events of the Federal Government; 4. Working for expert councils and other expert bodies established by the Federal Government; 5. Carrying out diplomatic or consular activities, 6. Responding to direct and individual requests from the Federal Government for factual information, data or expertise; 7. The activities of natural persons who formulate exclusively personal interests with their submission; Interest representatives lobbying the Bundestag and/pr Federal Government do not have to register when they conduct the following activities: 1. Holding a public office or mandate; 2. Activities of employers' or employees' association exerting influence on working and economic conditions, 3. Providing legal advice to a third party or to the interest representatives themselves, including the provision of scientific opinions or the presentation and discussion of legal issues for the general public, or a activities which are not aimed at the enactment, modification or rejection of a legal regulation by the German Bundestag or the Federal Government; 4. Operating as political parties in accordance with the Political Parties Act; 5. Operating as institutions for socio-political and democratic education work (political foundations), insofar as the respective budgetary legislator grants global subsidies for the fulfilment of their statutory tasks; 6. Operating as intermediary organisations for foreign cultural and educational policy, insofar as they are institutionally supported with funds from the federal budget; 7. Acting as a church, other religious community or ideological community; 8. Engaging in an activity protected under the second sentence of Article 5(1) of the Basic Law. 9. Are active as a municipal umbrella organisation at federal or Land level; 10. Are active as a national minority recognised in Germany, as a Low German speaker group, as a German minority in Denmark or as an organisation or institution of the aforementioned groups; 11. Have no permanent representation in Germany and work for human rights, democracy, the rule of law, humanitarian concerns or issues of sustainability and their work is primarily directed towards other countries or world regions.
Greece	No definition	No definition	No definition
Hungary	Government Decree 50/2013 (II. 25.) on the system of integrity management at public administration bodies and the procedural rules of receiving lobbyists	The Decree does not provide a definition of “lobbying”.	No definition
Ireland	Regulation of Lobbying Act (Article 5)	Relevant communications means communications (whether oral or written and however made), other than excepted communications, made personally (directly or indirectly) to a designated public official in relation to a relevant matter.	Excepted communications: 1. Private affairs: Communications by or on behalf of an individual relating to his or her private affairs unless they relate to the development or zoning of land. For example, communications in relation to a person’s eligibility for, or entitlement to, a social welfare payment, a local authority house, or a medical card are not relevant communications. 2. Diplomatic relations: Communications by or on behalf of a foreign country or territory, the European Union, the United Nations or any other international intergovernmental organisation. 3. Factual information: Communications requesting factual information or providing factual information in response to a request for the information (for example, a company asking a public servant how to qualify for an enterprise grant and getting an answer); 4. Published submissions: Communications requested by a public service body and published by it (for example, submissions received in response to a public consultation process which are subsequently published by the public body). 5. Trade union negotiations: Communications forming part of, or directly related to, negotiations on terms and conditions of employment undertaken by representatives of a trade union on behalf of its members. 6. Safety and security: Communications the disclosure of which could pose a threat to the safety of any person or to the security of the State. 7. Oireachtas committees: Communications which are made in proceedings of a committee of either House of the Oireachtas. It should be noted that this exemption only applies to formal proceedings of a committee which are generally recorded and/or minuted. It does not apply to communications outside of formal proceedings. 8. Communications by DPOs or public servants: Communications by a DPO in his or her capacity as such are exempt. (For example, communications by county councillors to local authority managers or other public servants do not constitute lobbying.) Similarly, communications by public servants (or those engaged on contract by a public service body) made in that capacity and relating to the functions of the public service body are exempt. 9. Governance of commercial State bodies: Communications by or on behalf of a commercial State body made to a Minister of the Government who holds shares in, or has statutory functions in relation to, the body, or to DPOs serving in the Minister’s department, in the ordinary course of the business of the body. (For example, certain communications involving Irish Rail and the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.) 10. Policy working groups: Communications between members of a “relevant body” appointed by a Minister, or by a public service body, for the purpose of reviewing, assessing or analysing any issue of public policy with a view to reporting to the Minister or public service body on it. A “relevant body” is one whose members are appointed by a Minister or by a public service body and the members include one or more DPOs and one or more who are not public servants nor engaged for the purposes of a public service body. (For example, advisory groups, expert groups, working groups, review groups or commissions). This exemption only applies if the relevant body conducts its activities in accordance with the Transparency Code.
Iceland	Prime Minister‘s bill on Conflicts of Interest in the Government Offices of Iceland (Article 1)	The act does not provide a definition of “lobbying”.	Lobbyists are not required to register in relation with the processing of administrative cases.
Israel	Knesset Law Chapter 12 (Article 66)	The law defines lobbying as actions to persuade Members of the Knesset (MKs) with regards to decisions specified in Annex Table A A.1.	See exemptions in Annex Table A A.2.
Italy	Regulation of interest representation activities in the offices of the Chamber of Deputies (Article 2)	The representation of interests means any activity carried out professionally in the premises of Chamber of Deputies by lobbyists, via proposals, requests, suggestions, studies, research, analysis or any other initiative or communication, whether oral or written, aimed at pursuing the lobbyist’s own interests or those of third parties vis-à-vis Members of the Chamber of Deputies.	Statements made and documents submitted during hearings before parliamentary committees do not constitute interest representation activities.
Japan	No definition	No definition	No definition
Korea	No definition	No definition	No definition
Latvia	Cabinet Regulation No. 1 "Values of State Administration and Fundamental Principles of Ethics" (Chapter 3 “Open Communication with Lobbyists”, Article 7)	Communication with a public employee or the institution in order to influence the drafting or taking of decisions that do not derive from coordination and public involvement procedures.	Communications that derive from procedures for ensuring the coordination of draft decisions and public involvement specified in laws and regulations.
Lithuania	Law No. VIII-1749 on Lobbying Activities (Article 2 and Article 7 “Activities not considered as lobbying activities’’)	Lobbying activities means actions taken by a natural person, a legal person, another organisation or a division thereof, with the aim to exert influence over lobbied persons on the adoption of legal acts in the interests of a lobbying client or the beneficiary of lobbying activities. “Beneficiary of lobbying activities means a natural person, legal person or any other another organisation or division thereof, in the interests of which lobbying activities are carried out and/or which seek to obtain the final benefit from lobbying activities. ‘Client of lobbying activities’ means a natural or legal person or any other organisation or division thereof that has concluded a written lobbying contract with a lobbyist to carry out lobbying activities, or a legal person or other organisation or division thereof that has assigned or instructed its participant, member of the management body or employee to conduct lobbying activities.	1. Activities of producers, disseminators of public information, their participants or journalists when collecting, preparing, publishing and disseminating public information in accordance with the Law of the Republic of Lithuania on the Provision of Information to the Public; 2. Activities of the persons who, at the invitation or on the initiative of state and municipal institutions or bodies, participate as experts or specialists for payment or without payment at meetings, sittings, consultations on the issues related to the drafting of legal acts in accordance with the Law of the Republic of Lithuania on Legislative Framework; 3. Actions of state politicians, state officials or civil servants when initiating, preparing, considering draft legal acts and adopting legal acts according to their official functions, as well as activities of other persons involved in the preparation, consideration and adoption of legal acts; 4. Proposals and evaluations received in the course of consultations with the public in accordance with the Law of the Republic of Lithuania on Legislative Framework; 5. Implementation of the right to petition, the right to referendum or the citizens’ legislative initiative in accordance with the Law of the Republic of Lithuania on Petitions, the Law of the Republic of Lithuania on Referendum and the Law of the Republic of Lithuania on the Citizens’ Legislative Initiative, respectively; 6. An individual opinion expressed by a natural person with regard to legislation; 7. Other activities carried out by legal persons in accordance with the procedure laid down by special laws or statutes and in line with the public interest. 8. Activities of persons when they participate in public meetings, conferences or other public events and/or events that are broadcast; 9. Activities of persons when they publicly disseminate information in the mass media; 10. Activities of political parties. 11. Activities of NGOs considered as organisations of public benefit; 12. Activities of religious communities and associations in cooperation with the competent state institutions in matters of education, culture, family, social issues and protection of human dignity.
Luxembourg	Code of Conduct for Members of Parliament relating to financial interests and conflicts of interest (Article 5 “Rules on Lobbying”)	No definition of “lobbying” is not provided.	No definition of “lobbying” is not provided.
Mexico	Rules of Procedure of the Chamber of Deputies (Article 263) Rules of Procedure of the Senate (Articles 298)	[Chamber of deputies] Lobbying shall mean any activity carried out before any Member of Parliament, body or authority of the House, either individually or jointly, to obtain a resolution or agreement favourable to their own interests or those of third parties. [Senate] Lobbying is understood as the activity carried out by persons dedicated to promoting the legitimate interests of individuals, before the management bodies and committees of the Senate or before senators individually or jointly, with the purpose of influencing decisions that correspond to them in the exercise of their powers.	The Rules of Procedure do not specify exemptions.
Netherlands	No definition	No definition	No definition
New Zealand	No definition	No definition	No definition
Norway	No definition	No definition	No definition
Peru	Law regulating the management of interests in the public administration, and associated decrees (Articles 2 and 3) Supreme Decree that approves the Regulation of Law No. 28024 - Law that regulates the management of interests in the public administration (Articles 3 and 5)	The act of interest management is understood as an oral or written communication, whatever the means used, directed to a civil servant of the public administration in order to influence a public decision. The management of interests is understood as an activity by which natural or legal persons, national or foreign, transparently promote their points of view in the public decision-making process in order to orientate decisions in a desired direction.	1. Statements, expressions, remarks or similar acts made in speeches, articles or publications; 2. Dissemination of news or other media disseminated among the general public or disseminated by any means of social communication; 3. Information, in writing or any other form that may be recorded, communicated to the public administration in response to a request; 4. Information provided on any social network in the exercise of freedom of expression; 5. Statements or remarks made in any public meeting, in the exercise of the rights of freedom of expression, opinion and assembly; 6. Free exercise of legal defence and advice, in compliance with the provisions of the law; 7. Official protocol acts; 8. Information requests, requests for meetings and any other request addressed to the official with public decision-making capacity, provided that it is not motivated by the aim to influence a public decision, or that it constitutes the exercise of the right of opinion provided in article 2-4 of the Political Constitution of Peru ; 9. The participation of natural or legal persons at the request of the public administration, in Consultative Councils, Multisectoral Commissions or other working groups, for the fulfilment of their purposes ; 10. The acts of internal administration of public entities that do not lead to a public decision. 11. The opinions that have been required by the entities of the public administration included in the scope of application of this regulation.
Poland	Act on Legislative and Regulatory Lobbying (Article 2)	‘Lobbying activity’ means any activity carried out by legally permitted methods aimed at influencing public authorities in the law-making process. “Professional lobbying activity” means any paid activity carried out on behalf of or in the name of a third party in order to ensure that their interests are taken into account during the drafting of legislation.	The Act only requires transparency over professional lobbying activities.
Portugal	No regulation	No definition	No definition
Romania	Memorandum for creating a Unique Interest Groups Transparency Register (Section 3)	Activities conducted by lobbyists with the aim to promote a proposed public policy or contribute to the revision of an existing proposal.
Slovak Republic	No definition	No definition	No definition
Slovenia	Integrity and Prevention of Corruption Act of 2010 (Articles 4, 56a)	Lobbying means the activities carried out by lobbyists who, on behalf of interest groups, exercise non-public influence on decisions made by State and local community bodies, and holders of public authority in discussing and adopting regulations and other general documents. A lobbyist may submit to lobbied persons any verbal or written information and material on matters in which the lobbyist carries out lobbying activities for interest groups. A lobbyist may also meet the persons lobbied.	Actions taken by individuals, informal groups or interest groups for the purpose of influencing the decision making of State bodies, bodies of self-governing local communities and the holders of public authority: 1. In the consideration and adoption of regulations and other general documents in the area directly relating to the systemic issues of strengthening the rule of law, democracy, and the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms; 2. on matters subject to judicial and administrative proceedings and other proceedings carried out according to the regulations governing public procurement, as well as proceedings in which the rights and obligations of individuals are decided upon.
Spain	Code of Conduct for Members of the Congress and the Senate (Article 6)	Lobbying means communicating directly or indirectly with holders of public or elected office or their personnel in favour of private, public, or collective interests, seeking to modify or influence issues related to the drafting or modification of legislative initiatives.	No definition
Sweden	No definition	No definition	No definition
Switzerland	No definition	No definition	No definition
Turkey	No definition	No definition	No definition
United Kingdom	Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act (Article 2)	Organisations and individuals are considered to be carrying out the business of consultant lobbying if they make oral, written or electronic communications personally to a Minister of the Crown or Permanent Secretary related to matters specified in Annex Table A A.1. The communication is made in the course of a business and in return for payment on behalf of a client, or payment is received with the expectation that the communication will be made at a later date. Informal communications (for example at a social event or conference) are registerable, if they otherwise meet the criteria for consultant lobbying.	Communications made to a government department, special adviser, administrator, private secretary or private office are not registerable. However, communications addressed to a Minister but sent via a private office would have to be registered. A communication from a Minister or Permanent Secretary does not need to be registered. However, If a Minister or Permanent Secretary initiates communication with an organisation and in the subsequent course of the exchange, the criteria for consultant lobbying are met, then the organisation is required to join the Register and register the activity. It does not matter that the Minister initiated the communications (and that the initial contact from the Minister is not itself registerable).
United States	Lobbying Disclosure Act (Article 10)	Lobbying Activities means lobbying contacts and any efforts in support of such contacts, including preparation or planning activities, research, and other background work that is intended, at the time of its preparation, for use in contacts, and coordination with the lobbying activities of others. Lobbying Contact means any oral, written, or electronic communication to a covered official that is made on behalf of a client with regard to the enumerated subjects in Table 3.1	Exemptions include communications that are: 1. Made by a public official acting in the public official's official capacity; 2. Made by a representative of a media organisation if the purpose of the communication is gathering and disseminating news and information to the public; 3. Made in a speech, article, publication or other material that is distributed and made available to the public, or through radio, television, cable television, or other medium of mass communication; 4. Made on behalf of a government of a foreign country or a foreign political party and disclosed under the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938; 5. A request for a meeting, a request for the status of an action, or any other similar administrative request, if the request does not include an attempt to influence a covered executive branch official or a covered legislative branch official; 6. Made in the course of participation in an advisory committee subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act; 7. Testimony given before a committee, subcommittee, or task force of the Congress, or submitted for inclusion in the public record of a hearing conducted by such committee, subcommittee, or task force; 8. Information provided in writing in response to an oral or written request by a covered executive branch official or a covered legislative branch official for specific information; 9. Required by subpoena, civil investigative demand, or otherwise compelled by statute, regulation, or other action of the Congress or an agency, including any communication compelled by a Federal contract, grant, loan, permit, or license; 10. Made in response to a notice in the Federal Register, Commerce Business Daily, or other similar publication soliciting communications from the public and directed to the agency official specifically designated in the notice to receive such communications; 11. Not possible to report without disclosing information, the unauthorised disclosure of which is prohibited by law; 12. Made to an official in an agency with regard to a judicial proceeding or a criminal or civil law enforcement inquiry, investigation, or proceeding; or a filing or proceeding that the Government is specifically required by statute or regulation to maintain or conduct on a confidential basis; 13. Made in compliance with written agency procedures regarding an adjudication conducted by the agency; 14. A written comment filed in the course of a public proceeding or any other communication that is made on the record in a public proceeding; 15. A petition for agency action made in writing and required to be a matter of public record pursuant to established agency procedures; 16. Made on behalf of an individual with regard to that individual's benefits, employment, or other personal matters involving only that individual with respect to the formulation, modification, or adoption of private legislation for the relief of that individual; 17. A disclosure by an individual that is protected under the amendments made by the Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989, under the Inspector General Act of 1978, or under another provision of law; 18. Made by a church, its integrated auxiliary, or a convention or association of churches that is exempt from filing a Federal income tax, or a religious order that is exempt from filing a Federal income tax return.
United States	Foreign Agents Registration Act (United States Code § 611 and 613)	1. Engaging within the United States in political activities, such as intending to influence any U.S. Government official or the American public regarding U.S. domestic or foreign policy or the political or public interests of a foreign government or foreign political party; 2. Acting within the United States as a public relations counsel, publicity agent, information service employee, or political consultant; 3. Soliciting, collecting, disbursing, or dispensing contributions, loans, money, or other things of value within the United States; 4. Representing within the United States the interests of a foreign principal before U.S. Government officials or agencies.	An agent of a foreign principal may be exempt from FARA’s registration obligations if the agent’s activities fall within one of the following exemptions: 1. Diplomatic officers and diplomatic staff; 2. Certain registered foreign officials who are not U.S. citizens and are not public-relations counsels, publicity agents or information-service employees. 3. Bona fide commercial activity and other activity not serving predominantly a foreign interest; 4. Humanitarian fundraising; 5. Religious, scholastic, academic, fine arts, or scientific pursuits; 6. Certain activities relating to the defense of foreign governments vital to the United States defense; 7. Legal representation of a disclosed foreign principal before any court or law or agency of the United States government; 8. Properly registered parties under the Lobbying Disclosure Act.
EU	Agreement between the European Parliament and the European Commission on the transparency register for organisations and self-employed individuals engaged in EU policy-making and policy implementation (Article 3)	Activities carried out with the objective of directly or indirectly influencing the formulation or implementation of policy and the decision-making processes of the EU institutions, irrespective of where they are undertaken and of the channel or medium of communication used, for example via outsourcing, media, contracts with professional intermediaries, think tanks, platforms, forums, campaigns and grassroots initiatives. ‘Directly influencing’ means influencing by way of a direct contact or communication with the EU institutions or other action following up on such activities and ‘indirectly influencing’ means influencing through the use of intermediate vectors such as media, public opinion, conferences or social events, targeting the EU institutions. In particular, those activities include: (a) contacting Members and their assistants, officials or other staff of the EU institutions; (b) preparing, circulating and communicating letters, information material or discussion papers and position papers; (c) organising events, meetings, promotional activities, conferences or social events, invitations to which have been sent to Members and their assistants, officials or other staff of the EU institutions; and (d) voluntary contributions and participation in formal consultations or hearings on envisaged EU legislative or other legal acts and other open consultations. The following activities concerning the provision of legal and other professional advice are covered by the register where they are intended to influence the EU institutions, their Members and their assistants or their officials or other staff: (a) the provision of support, via representation or mediation, or of advocacy material, including argumentation and drafting; and (b) the provision of tactical or strategic advice, including the raising of issues the scope of which and the timing of communication of which are intended to influence the EU institutions, their Members and their assistants or their officials or other staff.	1. Activities concerning the provision of legal and other professional advice are not covered by the register in so far as: (i) they consist of advisory work and contacts with public bodies in order to better inform clients about a general legal situation or about their specific legal position, or to advise them whether a particular legal or administrative step is appropriate or admissible under the existing legal and regulatory environment; (ii) they consist of advice given to clients to help them ensure that their activities comply with the relevant law; (iii) they consist of analyses and studies prepared for clients on the potential impact of any legislative or regulatory changes with regard to their legal position or field of activity. (iv) they consist of representation in the context of a conciliation or mediation procedure aimed at preventing a dispute from being brought before a judicial or administrative body; or (v) they relate to the exercise of the fundamental right of a client to a fair trial, including the right of defence in administrative proceedings, such as activities carried out by lawyers or by any other professionals involved therein. 2. Activities in response to direct and individual requests from EU institutions or Members of the European Parliament, such as ad hoc or regular requests for factual information, data or expertise, are not covered by the register.
EU	Commission Decisions of 25 November 2014 on the publication of information on meetings held between Members and Directors General of the Commission and organisations or self-employed individuals (Article 2)	‘Meeting’ means a bilateral encounter organised at the initiative of an organisation or self-employed individual or a Member of the Commission and/or a member of his/her Cabinet to discuss an issue related to policy-making and implementation in the Union.	Encounters taking place in the context of an administrative procedure established by the Treaties or Union acts, which falls under the direct responsibility of the Member of the Commission, as well as encounters of a purely private or social character or spontaneous encounters are excluded from the notion of "meetings". Publication of information is withheld when it undermines: 1. The protection of the life, the integrity or privacy of an individual; 2. The financial, monetary or economic policy of the Union; 3. The market stability or sensitive commercial information; 4. The proper conduct of court proceedings or inspections, investigations, audits or other administrative procedures; 5. The protection of any other important public interest recognised at Union level.

Source: OECD 2020 Survey on Lobbying and additional research by the OECD Secretariat.

	Type of transparency measure	Person responsible for registration	Information disclosed upon registration	Information disclosed after registration
Australia	Register of Lobbyists	Lobbyists	1. Business registration details, including trading names, of the lobbyist including, where the business is not a publicly listed company, the names of owners, partners or major shareholders, as applicable; 2. The names and positions of persons employed, contracted or otherwise engaged by the lobbyist to carry out lobbying activities; 3. Whether a person is a former government representative and if so, the date the person became a former government representative; and 4. The names of clients on whose behalf the lobbyist conducts lobbying activities.	Lobbyists must update their details in the register in the event of any change to the lobbyist’s details, within 10 business days after the change occurs.
Australia	Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme	Persons acting on behalf of a foreign principal	Persons registering under the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme are required to provide information and supporting documentation relating to their registration: 1. Detailed information about registrable activities (including types of registrable activities, dates of activities, details about the purpose of the activity); 2. Information describing the nature of the relationship with the foreign principal. However, the information that is made publicly available does not include information that is commercially sensitive, is sensitive and relates to a confidential government consultation on proposed policy changes, or affects national security.	Registrants are required to report material changes in circumstances, including updating their information to ensure that it is not misleading or inaccurate. Where a registrant becomes aware that information provided is or will become inaccurate or misleading, they are required to correct that information within 14 days. Specific obligations apply during voting periods (including election periods): 1. Reviewing registration information and confirming it is correct or updating the information; 2. Reporting any registrable activities undertaken during the voting periods (if relating to the relevant vote or election).
Austria	Lobbying and Advocacy Register	Lobbyists	Lobbying companies (carrying out lobbying activities for clients) and companies that employ corporate lobbyists: 1. Name of the company, trade register number (if applicable), head office and relevant business addresses, website address; 2. The start of the company’s financial year; 3. A brief description of professional or business activities; 4. A reference to a code of conduct; 5. Identity of lobbyists. 6. Identity of clients (disclosed immediately after initial registration);	Lobbying companies Within nine months of the end of the previous financial year: 1. The total turnover resulting from lobbying activities; and 2. The number of lobbying activities conducted. Companies that employ corporate lobbyists: Within nine months of the end of the previous financial year: whether the expenses incurred for lobbying for the past financial year exceed the amount of EUR 100 000.
Austria	Lobbying and Advocacy Register	Lobbyists	Autonomous entities: 1.Name, registered office and relevant address; 2. Legal basis for their establishment; 3. Website address Interest groups: 1. Name, registered office and relevant address; 2. A brief description of the group’s contractual or statutory area of responsibility; 3. Website address.	Within nine months of the end of the financial year: 1. Number of persons who work as interest representatives; 2. Estimated costs of advocacy confirmed by an external auditor.
Belgium	Lobbying register	Lobbyists	1. Personal details of the lobbyist; 2. Name of company/institution/organisation and its legal form; 3. Address of registered office; 4. Contact details (telephone number, email address, business number); 5. Purpose of the business; 6. Names of clients who are represented by the company/institution / organisation.	No updates or subsequent registrations are necessary.
Brazil	No information disclosed	No information disclosed	No information disclosed	No information disclosed
Canada	Registry of lobbyists	Lobbyists	Consultant lobbyists: 1. Name and business address of the individual and of the firm where the individual is engaged; 2. Name and business address of the client, and of any person or organisation that controls or directs the activities of the client and has a direct interest in the outcome of the individual’s activities; 3. Name and business address of each subsidiary of any parent corporation or subsidiary that has a direct interest in the outcome of the individual’s activities on behalf of the client; 4. Where the client is a coalition, the name and business address of each corporation or organisation that is a member of the coalition; 5. Any government funding that the client receives, the name of the government or agency providing funding, and the amount of funding received; 6. The subject-matter in respect of which the individual plans to communicate with a public office holder or to arrange a meeting; 7. the fact that the undertaking does not provide for any success fee; 8. Any relevant legislative proposal, bill, resolution, regulation, policy, program, grant, contribution, financial benefit or contract; 9. If the individual is a former public office holder, a description of the offices held, which of those offices, and the date on which the individual last ceased to hold such a designated public office; 10. The name of any department or other governmental institution in which any public office holder with whom the individual communicates or expects to communicate or with whom a meeting is or is to be arranged 11. Any communication technique that the individual uses or expects to communicate with the public office holder, including any appeals to members of the public through the mass media or by direct communication that seeks to persuade them to communicate directly with a public office holder in an attempt to place pressure on the public office holder to endorse a particular opinion (in this Act referred to as “grassroots communication”).	Lobbyists must update their information every six months. If a communication has been made with a “designated public office holder”, a “Monthly return” must be filed, including: 1. The name of the designated public office holder who was the object of the communication; 2. The date of the communication; 3. Subject-matter of the communication.
Canada	Registry of lobbyists	Lobbyists	In-house lobbyists (organisations and corporations): 1. The name and business address of the officer filing returns; 2. The name and business address of the employer; If the employer is a corporation, the name and business address of every subsidiary of the corporation that has a direct interest in the outcome of an employee’s activities on behalf of the employer; If the employer is a subsidiary of any other corporation, the name and business address of that other corporation; 3. A description in summary form of the employer’s business or activities; 4. If the employer is an organisation, a description of the organization’s membership; 5. Any government funding received, the name of the government or agency providing funding, and the amount of funding received; 6. If the employer is an organisation, the name of each employee whose duties is to conduct lobbying activities; 7. If the employer is a corporation: a list including the name of each senior officer or employee a significant part of whose duties is to conduct lobbying activities, and a second list including the name of each other senior officer any part of whose duties is to conduct lobbying activities, without constituting a significant part; 8. Identify the subject-matter of any communication made or expected to be made with a public office holder in respect of a relevant matter; 9. if any employee named in the return is a former public office holder, a description of the offices held, which of those offices, and the date on which the employee last ceased to hold such a designated public office; 10. Any relevant legislative proposal, bill, resolution, regulation, policy, program, grant, contribution or financial benefit; 11. The name of any department or other governmental institution communicated with or expected to be communicated; 12. Any communication technique, including grass-roots communication.	Lobbyists must re-register and update their information every six months. If a communication has been made with a “designated public office holder”, such re-registration must be carried out every month through a “Monthly return” including: 1. The name of the designated public office holder who was the object of the communication, 2. The date of the communication, 3. The subject-matter of the communication.
Chile	Register of meetings and hearings	Public officials	1. Identity of the persons with whom the hearing or meeting was held; 2. Whether or not such persons reported receiving remuneration because of the activity that was performed; 3. Information on the identity of the persons, organisation or entity represented; 4. Matter dealt with, with specific reference to the decision that was intended to be obtained; 5. Place, date, time and duration; 6. Whether the meeting was done in person or by videoconference.	Public organisations must update their registers on the first working day of each month
	Register of travels		1. Destination; 2. Object; 3. Total cost of the trip broken down by items covered; 4. Natural or legal person who financed it.	Public organisations must update their registers on the first working day of each month
	Register of gifts		1. Information on the donation; 2. Date and context of its reception; 3. Identity of the person, organisation or entity making the donation.	Public organisations must update their registers on the first working day of each month
Colombia	No information disclosed	No information disclosed	No information disclosed	No information disclosed
Costa Rica	No information disclosed	No information disclosed	No information disclosed	No information disclosed
Czech Republic	No information disclosed	No information disclosed	No information disclosed	No information disclosed
Denmark	No information disclosed	No information disclosed	No information disclosed	No information disclosed
Estonia	No information disclosed	No information disclosed	No information disclosed	No information disclosed
Finland	No information disclosed	No information disclosed	No information disclosed	No information disclosed
France	Register of Lobbyists	Lobbyists	1. Identity of the interest representative, including their identification number in the register of companies or associations; 2. Identity of the executives of the lobbyist; 3. Iidentity of individuals in charge of lobbying activities, and their position. These include individuals who spend more than half of their working time on lobbying activities, and individuals who have performed more than ten influence actions in the last twelve months; 4. Scope of lobbying activities, identified by listing major sectors of activity chosen from a drop-down menu; 5. Level at which the activities are performed: local, national, European or global; 6. Membership in “trade unions, professional organisations or associations related to the interests they represent”. 7. Identity of third parties on whose behalf the lobbying activities are performed. This concerns clients for whom lobbying activities have been performed in the last six months.	When lobbying activities are carried out on behalf of a new client, the client’s identity must be registered within one month. Lobbyists must file “annual activity reports”, submitted within three months of the end of the lobbyist’s financial year. The report contains the following information: 1. Types of public decisions targeted by lobbying activities; 2. Type of lobbying activities undertaken; 3. Issues covered by these activities, identified by their purpose and area of intervention; 4. Categories of public officials the lobbyist has communicated with; 5. The identity of third parties; 6. The amount of expenditure related to lobbying activities in the past year, identified by thresholds.
Germany	Lobby Register	Lobbyists	Interest representatives – natural persons: 1. Family name, maiden name, first names, academic degree (optional); 2. date and place of birth; 3. Address; 4 Electronic contact details. Interest representatives – legal persons or other organisations: 1. Company name, website, e-mail address and address, 2. Legal form or nature of the organisation, 3. Surname, first names, academic degree (optional) and electronic contact details of all legal representatives or other persons authorised to represent the organisation; 4. Surname, maiden name, first names, academic degree (optional) of employees directly exercising the representation of interests, unless covered under point; 5. Number of members and memberships. For all interest representatives: 1. Field of interest and project area as well as description of the field of activity; 2. Identity of the third parties for which interest representation is carried out; 3. Number of employees conducting activities of interest representation (in increments of 10); 4. Annual financial expenditure for interest representation activities (in increments of EUR 10 000); 5. Individual donations and grants received from public authorities, individual gifts from third parties (in increments of EUR 10 000 each), provided that the total value in relation to one donor exceed EUR 20 000 in one calendar year. The name of the donor, its place of residence or registered office, and a brief description of the benefit must also be provided. 6. Annual financial statements or statements of accounts of legal persons if there are no disclosure obligations under commercial law. Interest representatives may refuse to disclose financial information (4-6) but the refusal is recorded in the register and interest representatives are identified in a separate public list within the lobby register. The personal information of natural persons is not made public.	Interest representatives must update the information at least once a year. Any changes to the information registered must be disclosed at the latest by the end of the quarter following the occurrence of the change. Changes related to the identify of clients must be registered without delay. Financial information must be no later than six months after the end of the financial year for the past financial year. A list of former lobbyists is kept and published accordingly. Removal from takes place after 18 months.
Greece	No information disclosed	No information disclosed	No information disclosed	No information disclosed
Hungary	Employees of public administration bodies must disclose their meetings with lobbyists to their superior.	Public officials	Information given to their superiors shall include the name of the lobbyist and – if applicable – the name of the organisation represented by the lobbyist, as well as the objective, date and location of the meeting. The information is not made public.
Ireland	Register of Lobbying	Lobbyists	“Applications”: 1. The person’s name; 2. The address at which the person carries on business; 3. The person’s business or main activities; 4. Any e-mail address, telephone number or website address relating to the person’s business or main activities, 5. Any registration number issued by the Companies Registration Office; 6. (if a company) the person’s registered office. The application shall contain a statement by the person by whom it is made that the information contained in it is correct.	"Returns" made at the end of each relevant period, covering activities made during the relevant period: 1. Information relating to the client (name, address, main activities, contact details, registration number) 2. The designated public officials to whom the communications concerned were made and the body by which they are employed; 3. The relevant matter of those communications and the results they were intended to secure, 4. The type and extent of the lobbying activities, including any “grassroots communications”, where an organisation instructs its members or supporters to contact DPOs on a particular matter. 5. The name of the individual who had primary responsibility for carrying on the lobbying activities, 6. The name of each person who is or has been a designated public official employed by, or providing services to, the registered person and who was engaged in carrying on lobbying activities. If the registered person has not carried on any lobbying activities in the period covered by the return, the return shall state that fact. The return shall contain details of any change during the relevant period in the information entered on the Register. A return shall contain a statement by the person by whom it is made that the information contained in it is correct.
Iceland	Log of registrations of lobbyists	Lobbyists	Before a lobbyist seeks to influence authorities on behalf of a private party, he/she is required to register information on himself/herself and his/her role. Legal entities and NGO’s are permitted to register individuals that lobby on their behalf. The following information should be registered: 1. The name and identification number of the lobbyist, 2. Employer and establishment, 3. The role of the lobbyist, i.e. the private parties that the lobbyist represents and their interests. It should be indicated whether the role is incidental or ongoing and when it is expected to end.	A lobbyist is required to notify the authorities when he/she ceases operation.
Iceland	Legislative footprint		Information on the participation of private parties in the drafting of a Government Bill shall be accessible in the text of the bill.
Israel	List of lobbyists on the Knesset’s website	Lobbyists	When applying, lobbyists must disclose the following information: 1. Applicant’s personal details and whether they work in a company; 2. The type of company, its name and registration number; 3. The names of the clients they wish to represent at the Knesset and their field of activity; 4. If the applicant is a member of a political party, the name of the political party; 5. A declaration that the applicant undertakes to act in accordance with the provisions of the law.	If there is a change in the applicant’s details, he/she must notify the Knesset in writing immediately after the change.
Italy	Register of interest representatives (Chamber of Deputies)	Lobbyists	“Application for registration”: 1. A description of the activities of representation of interests that the applicant intends to carry out and an indication of the persons he/she intends to contact; 2. In the case of a natural person, his or her personal details, professional address; 3. In the case of a natural person, self-certification that he or she has not held any government office or a parliamentary mandate in the last twelve months; 4. In the case of legal entities, the name and the registered office, the personal details of the persons legally representing them, and of those who carry out the activity of interest representation on their behalf on a stable and constant basis, with indication of the specific contract that binds them, as well as self-certification that they have not held any government office or or a parliamentary mandate in the last twelve months; 5. In the case of persons representing the interests of third parties, the indication of the clients on behalf of which they operate and the legal title that allows the exercise of the activity, with an indication of the end date of the activity, where expected; 6. Consent to the processing of personal data and to the publication on the Chamber's website of the information provided; 7. A commitment to communicate any changes in the information and data in a timely manner.	By 31 December of each year, those entered in the register are required to present to the Chamber of Deputies a report on the activity of interest representation carried out during the year, giving: 1. An account of the contacts actually made; 2. The objectives pursued; 3. The clients in whose interest the activity has been carried out; 4. The employees or collaborators who have participated in the activity. Where a legal entity other than a natural person is registered, a single report is submitted.
Japan	No information disclosed	No information disclosed	No information disclosed	No information disclosed
Korea	No information disclosed	No information disclosed	No information disclosed	No information disclosed
Latvia	Employees of public administration bodies must disclose their meetings with lobbyists to their superior There is a regulatory footprint if the proposal expressed by the lobbyist is considered.	Public officials	The employee shall inform the direct manager or the head of the institution regarding the expected meeting with the lobbyist, as well as disclose the information received from the lobbyist, including what interests they represent, what proposals were expressed, and in what way they have been considered. If the proposal expressed by the lobbyist is considered when drafting or taking a decision, this shall be indicated in the document related to such decision (e.g. in the summary), and made publicly available.
Lithuania	Transparent Legislative Process Information System	Lobbyists	“Application” 1. The name and surname, personal identification number, place of residence, place of employment and duties of the lobbyist within the last year if the application is lodged by a natural person; 2. The name and the registration number if the application is lodged by a legal person; 3. The name and surname of natural persons who will conduct lobbying activities on behalf of a legal person if the application is lodged by a legal person. 4. Area(s) of regulations in which the person intends to influence legislation.	“Declaration on transparent legislative processes” submitted for every draft legal action which lobbying activities were conducted, no later than within seven days from the commencement of lobbying activities. When a specific piece of legislation involves continuous lobbying, the lobbyist is only required to declare the start of the lobbying activity. The report must contain: 1. Name, surname, number of the lobbyist’s certificate; 2. Name, surname or a business name of the client of lobbying activities and/or beneficiary of lobbying activities. 3. The title of a legal act or draft legal act with respect to which lobbying activities were conducted; 4. A brief description of the subject matter to be amended in the legal act or the draft legal act or with respect to which he/she acts as a lobbyist; 5. Name of the institution or body (the division, if there is one) in which the person on whom influence was exerted over; 6. Name, surname, duties of a lobbied person. 7. Whether a proposal for a draft legal act has been submitted to the lobbied person.
	Transparent Legislative Process Information System	Public officials	The President of the Republic, members of the Seimas, government ministers, vice-ministers, chancellors of ministries, heads of parliamentary political parties, mayors, members of municipal councils, directors of municipal administrations and their deputies must report on lobbying activities targeting them within seven days from the commencement of lobbying activities for a specific draft legal act.	Disclosures must be made within seven days from the commencement of lobbying activities for a specific draft legal act.
	Open agendas	Public officials	The President of the Republic, members of the Seimas, the Government, Deputy Ministers, Chancellors of the Seimas, the Government, Ministries, heads of parliamentary political parties, mayors, members of municipal councils, directors of municipal administrations and their deputies must publish their agendas on the websites of the legal entities in which they hold office.
	Certain civil servants must disclose their meetings with lobbyists to their superior	Public officials	Civil servants who participate in the preparation, consideration and adoption of draft legal acts must declare lobbying activities targeting them to their managers within seven days from the commencement of the activities for a specific draft legal act, in accordance with the procedure established by the heads of those institutions.	Disclosures must be made within seven days from the commencement of lobbying activities for a specific draft legal act.
Luxembourg	Legislative footprint	N/A	The legislative footprint is limited to contributions made by lobbyists during Parliamentary Committees.
Mexico	Lobbying registers	Lobbyists	1. For natural persons: name, address, contact details, copy of documents including declaration of interests; 2. For legal persons: name of the company, business address, contact details, name of the legal representatives, names of persons to be accredited, sector of activity, country of origin, website, documents on the legal constitution of the company; 3. Themes of interest; 4. Commissions, Parliamentary groups, Members of Parliament targeted by lobbying activities; 5. Reforms and/or laws of interest.	Registration must be done at the beginning of each legislature and is valid for the duration of the legislature. The lists are published every six months in the Official Gazette.
Netherlands	Voluntary Lobbyist Register	Lobbyists	Name of the lobbyist, name of the employer and/or client.	No updates or subsequent registrations are necessary.
New Zealand	No information disclosed	No information disclosed	No information disclosed	No information disclosed
Norway	No information disclosed	No information disclosed	No information disclosed	No information disclosed
Peru	Online Register of Visits	Public officials	Officials with public decision-making capacity are responsible for registering the acts of interest management. They are prohibited from meeting lobbyists outside their institutional headquarters, except if the meeting was previously scheduled in their official agenda. Each public entity has its own Online Register of Visits. The highest administrative authority of each entity, with the support of the Office of Human Resources and the Office of Institutional Integrity of the institution, identify the public officials with public decision-making capacity for the purposes of registering the acts of interest management. The following information is disclosed : 1. Visitors’ name ; 2. The natural or legal person they represent ; 3. The name of the public official visited and the position held ; 4. Reason for the meeting and summary of any act of interest management performed by the visitor, with specific reference to the decision that was intended to be obtained ; 5. Meeting date time (time of entry and exit) ; The information contained in the visits register must be updated on a daily basis. In case the entity does not have the necessary computer tools to carry out this task, the list must be sent to the Secretariat of Public Integrity of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, in accordance with the procedure that it determines, and published in the Standard Transparency Portal of the respective entity.	The information contained in each public entity’s Register of Visits must be updated on a daily basis.
Poland	Register of entities performing professional lobbying activities	Lobbyists	1. Company name, name and address of the person carrying professional lobbying activities, or name and address of a natural person other than the person performing the lobbying activity; 2. Identification number.	Entities listed in the Register must notify the authority responsible for maintaining the register of any modification made to the data recorded in the Register within 7 days of the modification.
	Lists of registered persons as administered by the Sejm and by the Senate	Lobbyists	« Application » : 1. Name and identification number of persons engaging in professional lobbying activities ; 2. Information on the interest which it intends to represent in relation to a given regulation. 3. Certificate or declaration of entry of the entity he/she represents to the register of entities performing professional lobbying activities and an authorisation to represent him/her, as well as a statement indicating the entities for which he/she performs this activity.	The applicant is required to inform of any change in the data covered in the application within 7 days from the date of its occurrence.
	Legislative footprint of documents sent to Committees of the Sejm	Public officials	Sjem: documents, in particular proposals for legal solutions as well as expert opinions and legal opinions, submitted by persons engaging in professional lobbying activities to committee examining a given bill shall be made available on the Information System of the Sejm. Senate: When a committee reports on legislation or legislative proposal it has been considering, the rapporteur informs about the activities performed by professional lobbyists during the course of the committee work and presents their desired outcome of that consideration as well as the committee position in the given matter
	Annual overview of meeting with lobbyists	Public officials	Managers of public authorities prepare once a year, by the end of February, information on the actions taken against them by persons engaged in professional lobbying. The information includes: 1. Cases in which professional lobbying activity was undertaken; 2. Entities that performed professional lobbying activities; 3. Forms of professional lobbying activity undertaken, along with an indication of whether it consisted in supporting or speaking against specific projects; 4. Specification of the influence exerted by the entity performing the professional activity, and its impact.
Portugal	No information disclosed	No information disclosed	No information disclosed	No information disclosed
Romania	Voluntary Interest Groups Transparency Register	Lobbyists	Specialised groups register voluntarily in the online register: 1. Name of specialised group and contact details, fiscal identification number; 2. Name of legal representative and contact details; 3. Organisational category in which the specialised group falls: 4. Year of establishment, purpose of the organisation, levels of government at which the organisation is active (i.e. local, regional, national, EU), memberships; 5. Areas of interest: 6. Main public policy initiatives pursued in the last 3 years; 7. Whether the organisation collaborates with persons who have worked in a public institution in the last year; 8. Indication of five clients (for profit) and five donors (non profit): 9. Turnover or total revenues from the previous year; 10. Annual budget allocated to lobbying activities (by selecting a threshold): 11. Acceptance for the use of personal data of the representatives of the specialised group.	No updates or subsequent registrations are necessary
Romania	Agendas of decision-makers	Public officials	The agenda of decision makers are published daily in a centralised form on the same platform. Each institution must add a link to the Registry platform in a specialised section of their websites entitled “decision-making transparency”. Management of the institution must complete, on a weekly basis, information on meetings with entities registered in the RUTI; The following information must be registered: 1. The name of the specialised group met, and other people present; 2. The name of the person representing the specialised group; 3. Date of the meeting and meeting place; 4. Names of decision makers participating in the discussions, including their institution and position; (e) Subjet of the discussion.
Slovak Republic	No information disclosed	No information disclosed	No information disclosed	No information disclosed
Slovenia	Register of lobbyists	Lobbyists and interest groups	Upon registration, lobbyists must disclose: 1. Name and contact details; 2. Tax ID number (not made public); 3. Registered office or name and head office of their employer; 4. Sphere of interests.	By 31 January for the previous year, lobbyists must submit a report containing the following information to the Commission for the Prevention of Corruption (this information is not made public, but available upon request): 1. the lobbyist’s tax ID number; 2. Interest groups for which the lobbyist lobbied; 3. Data on the amount of payment received from interest groups for each matter in which the lobbyist has lobbied; 4. A statement on the purpose and objective of lobbying for a particular interest group; 4.The names of State bodies and persons targeted by lobbying activities; 5. Types and methods of lobbying for a particular matter in which the lobbyist has lobbied; 6. Type and value of donations made to political parties and the organisers of electoral campaigns. Interest groups with employees, legal representatives or elected representatives carrying out lobbying activities must register these activities, either after an individual lobbying activity or by 31 January. The report to the Commission for the Prevention of Corruption (not made public, but available upon request) includes the following information: 1. Lobbyists’ name and surname; 2. S statement on the purpose and objective og lobbying for a particular interest group; 3. Names of state bodies and persons targeted by lobbying activities; 4. Types and methods of lobbying for a particular matter in which the lobbyist has lobbied.
Slovenia	Contacts with lobbyists	Public officials	Public officials contacted by lobbyists are required to check that they are duly registered in the Register of Lobbyists, must advise their superiors and report on their meetings with lobbyists to the Commission for the Prevention of Corruption within eight days, in the form of a signed declaration, specifying the date, time and place of the meeting, as well as the intent (matters discussed) and goals (which decision did the lobbyist try to influence and with what aim) of the lobbying activity. The information is incorporated in the lobbying registry.
Spain	Agenda of the members of the Government	Public officials	The agenda lists, on a day-by-day basis, the visits, interventions or meetings in which the members of the Government participate. Each item discloses at least: 1. The minister in charge, and other minister(s) assisting; 2. The time of the meeting; 3. The organisation met or visited.
Spain	Agendas of Deputies and Senators	Public officials	Public officials must make public their meetings with interest representatives. The Code of conduct does not further specify the type of information that should be disclosed.
Sweden	No information disclosed	No information disclosed	No information disclosed	No information disclosed
Switzerland	No information disclosed	No information disclosed	No information disclosed	No information disclosed
Turkey	No information disclosed	No information disclosed	No information disclosed	No information disclosed
United Kingdom	Register of Consultant Lobbyists	Lobbyists	1. In the case of a company: name, registered number and address of its registered office, and the names of its directors and of any secretary and any shadow directors; 2. In the case of a partnership (including a limited liability partnership): the names of the partners and the address of its main office; 3. In the case of an individual: the individual’s name and the address of the individual’s main place of business (or, if there is no such place, the individual’s residence); 4. Whether the registrant must comply with a Code of Conduct.	Lobbyists must report four times a year, specifying the names of their clients over the past three-month period, along with any changes in the information declared on their register entry.
United Kingdom	Ministerial diaries (available upon request)	Public officials	Quarterly ministerial diaries contain external meetings and any meeting with newspaper and other media proprietors, editors and senior executives regardless of the purpose of the meeting.
United States	Reporting of Lobbying Activities and certain contributions	Lobbyists	1. Contact details, information on clients (one registration per client) and/or the employer. 2. Information on the intended subjects of their lobbying activities. 3. Estimation of payment received or expenditures incurred for lobbying activities.	Quarterly reports on lobbying activities (LD-2), including: 1. General lobbying issue area code(s). 2. Specific issues on which the lobbyist(s) engaged in lobbying activities. 3. Houses of Congress and specific Federal Agencies contacted. 4. Disclosing the lobbyists who had any activity in the general issue area. Semi-annual reports on certain contributions detailing political contributions and attesting to their compliance with Congress’ Code of Conduct as regards gifts.
United States	Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) platform	Agents of a foreign principal	Each registrant must complete several forms: 1. Registration Statement including (i) details on the agent of a foreign principal registering; (ii) details on the foreign principal; (iii) a description of the activities the agent of a foreign principal has or will undertake; (iv) financial information on any money received from the foreign principal, any money disbursed on behalf of the foreign principal, and any political contributions made by employees of the agent; (v) information materials on any plans of the agnt to distribute informational materials on behald of the foreign principal, including how they will be distributed and to what audiences. 2. Exhibit A, describing the foreign principal; 3. Exhibit B, describing the nature and terms of the agreement; 4. Exhibit C, including copies of the articles of incorporation, association, bylaws or partnership agreement; 5. Exhibit D if the agent receives, or collects money or other things of value as part of a fundraising campaign; 6. “Short form registration statements”, for every partner, officer, director, associate, employee, and agent of a registrant who acts in furtherance of the interests of the foreign principal; 6. “Informational materials”, including items that an agent disseminates on behalf of the foreign principal.	Agents must file a Supplemental Statement every six months, detailing and updating all the items and activities from the Registration Statement, including every press or government contact made on behalf of a foreign principal.
EU	Transparency Register	Lobbyists	1. Information on the organisation, names and contact details of lobbyists, areas of activity, membership and number of members; 2. Main policies and legislative proposals targeted; 3. Membership in committees, expert groups, Parliamentary intergroups; 4. Financial information relating to lobbying activities; 5. In the case of consultants/firms acting on behalf of clients, a list of all clients and payment received for lobbying activities; 6. In the case of think tanks, research and academic institutions: sources of funding.	Once a year, lobbyists must provide financial figures and update the information registered.
	Agendas of Commissioners, Cabinet members, Directors-General and Heads of Service	Public officials	Meetings held with interest representatives: date of the meeting, the location, the name of the Member of the Commission and/or member of the Cabinet, the name of the organisation or self-employed individual and the subject of the meeting.
	Open agendas in the European Parliament	Public officials	Chairs of Parliamentary Committees, rapporteurs and advisers publish their meetings with lobbyists.

Source: OECD 2020 Survey on Lobbying and additional research by the OECD Secretariat.

	Type of document	Standards of conduct on lobbying
Australia	Australian Government Lobbying Code of Conduct	A Government representative shall not knowingly and intentionally be a party to lobbying activities by a lobbyist or an employee of a lobbyist who is not on the Register of Lobbyists, or who has failed to inform them that they are lobbyists (whether they are registered, the name of their clients, and the nature of the matters they wish to raise). A Government representative must report any breaches of the Code to the Secretary of the Attorney-General's Department.
Canada	Prime Minister Guide on Open and Accountable Government (for Ministers and Ministers of State)	(IV.3) The Commissioner of Lobbying may ask designated public office holders, including Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries, to verify information about lobbying communications that has been registered by lobbyists. Every effort should be made to meet this responsibility using routine records. Annex B ‘‘Fundraising and Dealing with Lobbyists: Best Practices for Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries’’
Canada	Ethics and Conflict of Interest Code for Senators Standing Orders of the House of Commons, Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons (Articles 8-10)	Furthering private interests. When performing parliamentary duties and functions, a member/Senator shall not act in any way to further his or her private interests or those of a member of the member/senator’s family, or to improperly further another person’s or entity’s private interests. Using influence. A member/Senator shall not use his or her position as a member/Senator to influence a decision of another person so as to further the member/Senator’s private interests or those of a member of his or her family, or to improperly further another person’s or entity’s private interests. Insider information. A member/Senator shall not use information obtained in his or her position as a member that is not generally available to the public to further the member/Senator’s private interests or those of a member of his or her family, or to improperly further another person’s or entity’s private interests.
Chile	Lobbying law, (“Deberes de los sujetos pasivos”)	Lobbied public officials and administrations have a duty to register hearings and meetings with lobbyists, as well as donations and trips made in the exercise of their duties. Public administrations have a duty to maintain a public register of lobbyists and interest representatives. They must guarantee equal access for persons and organisations to the decision-making process. Public administrations are not required to respond positively to every demand for meetings or hearings; however, if it does so in respect to a specific matter, it must accept demands of meetings of hearings to all who request them on the said matter.
Germany	Anti-Corruption Code of Conduct (Annex 1 to the Federal Government Directive Concerning the Prevention of Corruption in the Federal Administration)	Public officials must avoid any appearance of possible partiality, make sure they do not give any appearance of being biased, not even through a general climate of influence exerted by an interested party.
Hungary	Code of Conduct for Government Officials	Public officials must consider as a partiality any situation where their personal interests or their relationship with organisations outside the structure of the state impede or may impede the impartiality, lawfulness, ethics and professionalism of their work. They must refrain from lobbying for or enforcing the employment in public bodies of their relatives and those with whom they are in an emotional, political, economic or other community of interests. They must avoid entering into economic alliances with people who regularly appear as lobbyists in the workplace. They must not seek nor provide benefits or special treatment to current or former employees of government agencies, or to any other stakeholders.
Iceland	Code of Conduct for Staff in the Government Offices of Iceland (Article 3.3) Code of Conduct for Members of the Althingi (Article 12)	When interacting with interest groups, staff in the Government Offices of Iceland shall bear in mind that the duties of public administration are primarily towards the public. Staff shall observe the principle of equality when responding to the requests of interest groups. Members of the Althingi shall not use their position as a Members of the Althingi to further their own or another person's or entity's interests in a manner incompatible with this Code of Conduct.
Latvia	Cabinet Regulations No. 1 “Values of State Administration and Fundamental Principles of Ethics” (Chapter 3, Articles 7, 8 and 9)	When communicating with lobbyists, public employees shall follow the principles of openness, equality, and integrity. They must ensure all interested lobbyists have equal opportunities to receive information and communicate with the public institution and its employees. Public employees must inform their direct manager or the head of their institution on their meeting with lobbyists, and disclose information on their meetings, including information received from lobbyists.
Lithuania	Law on Lobbying Activities (Article 5 “Responsibilities of state and municipal institutions, establishments and persons to whom lobbying activities are directed”)	1. State and municipal bodies, as well as lobbied public officials must create the conditions for lobbyists to exercise their rights specified in the law when they are registered, to carry out lawful activities and pursue the interests of lobbying clients and beneficiaries, as well as the conditions for the Chief Official Ethics Commission to carry out its supervising functions. 2. Lobbied persons are prohibited from accepting gifts or any other remuneration from lobbyists. 3. The President of the Republic, the Seimas, members of the Government, Deputy Ministers, Governors, Chancellors of Ministries, heads of parliamentary political parties, mayors, members of municipal councils, directors of municipal administrations and their deputies must declare lobbying activities targeting them for each draft legal act, no later than seven days from the start of lobbying activities for the specific draft act, This includes oral or written (including electronic) discussions on the provisions of the draft act with the lobbyists. Disclosures are made through electronic means in accordance with the procedure established by the Chief Official Ethics Commission. (hereinafter referred to as the Transparent Legislative Process Information System). 4. Civil servants, other civil servants and other persons who participate in the preparation, consideration and adoption of draft legal acts must declare lobbying activities targeting them for each draft legal act to their managers or authorized representatives of the public institution that are employed in, no later than seven days from the start of lobbying activities for the specific draft act. This includes oral or written (including by electronic means) discussions of the provisions of the draft act with the lobbyists. These disclosures are done in accordance with the procedures established by the heads of each institution. 5. The President of the Republic, members of the Seimas, the Government, Deputy Ministers, Chancellors of the Seimas, the Government, Ministries, heads of parliamentary political parties, mayors, members of municipal councils, directors of municipal administrations and their deputies shall make their agendas public. Their agendas shall be published on the websites of the legal entities in which they hold office.
Luxembourg	Code of conduct for Luxembourg MPs on financial interests and conflicts of interest (Article 5 – Rules concerning Lobbying)	Relations between Members of Parliament and representative of private interests are subject to rules guaranteeing transparency and publicity. Contacts shall take place in committees. Any other contact with an interest representative must not take place within the premises of the Chamber. Insofar as the interventions of the interest representative are likely to have a direct impact on a legislative text under discussion, the Member shall mention it during the committee debates; the rapporteur must indicate it in his or her written report. If the committee decides so, a position paper of an interest group may also be published.
Peru	Law regulating the management of interests in the public administration, and associated decrees (Article 17) Supreme Decree that approves the Regulation of Law No. 28024 - Law that regulates the management of interests in the public administration (Article 9 “Of the obligations of public officials responsible for registering the acts of interest management”)	1. Public officials with decision-making capacity who are contacted by lobbyists must maintain equal treatment for all persons who carry acts of interest management. Equal treatment includes the duty by civil servants to consider persons who carry out acts of interest management with respect and deference, granting them adequate time to present their points of view in the public decision-making process. 2. Public officials with decision-making capacity must record in the Register of Online Visits information on their meetings with persons conducting acts of interest management. The highest administrative authority of each entity, with the support of the Office of Human Resources and the Office of Institutional Integrity, identify the public officials with public decision-making capacity. 3. They are required to inform the Office of Institutional Integrity of their entity if there is a contravention against the prohibition to accept any gifts, donations, free services, offers of employment of positions from lobbyists or their clients, or if lobbyists contravene the ethical guidelines related to the lobbying law. They must inform the Office of Institutional Integrity of any lobbyists who contravenes with his/her ethical obligations. 4. They are prohibited from meeting lobbyists outside institutional headquarters. Exceptionally, any meeting happening outside institutional headquarters may take place if it is scheduled in advance and registered in the Online Register of Visits.
Poland	Act on Legislative and Regulatory Lobbying	The “public authorities” are obliged to publish information on professional lobbying activities targeting them in the Public Information Bulletin, along with the subject and the stated aims of the entities carrying them out. However, MPs and Senators are not subject to any personal obligation of declaration. The Chancellery of the Prime Minister’s Ordinance describes the contacts that may be made with lobbyists: the Chancellery’s employees are required to document their meetings with lobbyists, using a special form to do so. The Chancellery’s Legal Department registers such meetings, compiles documents, formally controls lobbyists’ declarations and checks that they are registered. The competent public authority is required to inform the Ministry of Public Information immediately of any professional lobbying activities performed by an entity not in the Register.
Slovenia	Integrity and Prevention of Corruption Act	Public officials may agree to have contact with a lobbyist only after verifying that the lobbyist is entered into the Register. If, during a contact with a lobbyist a conflict of interest arises on the part of the person lobbied, they must refuse any contact with the lobbyist. They must record, within three days, of each meeting with a lobbyist to their superior and to the Commission for the Prevention of Corruption. They must report, within ten days, any attempts to lobby from unregistered lobbyists to the Commission for the Prevention of Corruption.
Mexico	Rules of Procedures of the Senate (Articles 298 and 299) Rules of Procedures of the Chamber of Deputies (Articles 263 to 268)	Senators must inform the Bureau of the Senate of the activities carried out before them by lobbyists. They may not accept gifts or payments in cash of kind from lobbyists. Members of the House and their support staff may refrain from making recommendations that amount to lobbying when they obtain financial or in-kind benefits from third parties with whom they have professional, employment or business relations. They may not accept gifts or benefits from lobbyists.
Spain	Code of Conduct for members of the Congress and the Senate	Members of the Parliament must make public their institutional agenda in the Transparency Portal of the Congress, including the meetings held with the representatives of any entity that satisfies the conditions of an interest group. (…) Each Member of Parliament will be responsible for the truthfulness, accuracy and timeliness of the information published.
United Kingdom	The Seven Principles of Public Life	Holders of public office must avoid placing themselves under any obligation to people or organisations that might try inappropriately to influence their work.
	Civil Service Code	Civil servants must not misuse their official position, for example by using information acquired in the course of their official duties to further their private interests or those of others. Civil servants must not be influenced by improper pressures from others or the prospect of personal gain. Civil servants must not act in a way that unjustifiably favours or discriminates against particular individuals or interests.
	Code of Conduct of the House of Commons	No Member shall act as a paid advocate in any proceeding of the House.
	Code of Conduct for Members of the House of Lords Guide to the Code of Conduct Code of Conduct for House of Lords Members’ Staff	Members may work for or hold financial interests in organisations such as representative bodies, trade associations or organisations involved in parliamentary lobbying on behalf of clients (such as public relations and law firms). However, members themselves are prohibited from personally offering parliamentary advice or services to clients, both directly and indirectly. Guidance on dealing with lobbyists: Some lobbying can give rise to a suspicion of improper influence over Parliament. Members must have regard to such public perceptions. Members’ dealings with lobbyists should always be governed by the principles of integrity and openness; Members should take particular care not to give the impression of giving greater weight to representations because they come from paid lobbyists; representations should be given such weight as they deserve based on their intrinsic merit. Members must in their dealings with lobbyists observe the exclusive benefit rule and the prohibition on the provision of parliamentary advice or services for payment or other reward. Members should decline all but the most insignificant or incidental hospitality, benefit or gift offered by a lobbyist. Members should be especially cautious when coming into contact with representatives of corrupt or repressive regimes, ensuring that they uphold the integrity of the parliamentary process and the reputation of the House of Lords at all times. Members’ staff shall not make use of their access to the member who sponsors their pass, to other members (of either House), to the parliamentary email network or to the parliamentary estate to further the interests of an outside person or body from whom they have received or expect to receive payment or other incentive or reward.
United States	House of Representatives Ethics Manual Senate Rules and Standards of Conduct	A Member, officer, or employee of the House of Representatives may not accept a gift from a registered lobbyist, agent or a foreign principal, or private entity that retains or employs such individuals. A Member, officer, or employee may accept a gift, other than cash or cash equivalent (e.g., stock, gift card, voucher), having a value of less than $50, provided that the source of the gift is not a registered lobbyist, foreign agent, or private entity that retains or employs a registered lobbyist or foreign agent.
EU	Transparency Rules of the European Commission Rules of procedure of the European Parliament (Rule 11 Members’ financial interests and Transparency register)	Commissioners and members of their cabinets are required to publish information on meetings held with interest representatives, and must refuse to meeting with lobbies not included in the Register. Since 31 January 2019 and for each report, the Chair of the Parliamentary Committee concerned and each Parliamentary Group’s rapporteur and advisers publish all meetings with lobbyists, whether inside or outside Parliament, in their agendas. Eventually, MEPs “should adopt as a systematic practice” to only meet with interest representatives registered in the Transparency Register.

Source: Additional research by the OECD Secretariat.

	Lobbyists
Australia	Principles of engagement with Government Representatives (a) lobbyists shall not engage in any conduct that is corrupt, dishonest or illegal, or unlawfully cause or threaten any detriment; (b) lobbyists shall use all reasonable endeavours to satisfy themselves of the truth and accuracy of all statements and information provided by them to clients whom they represent, the wider public and Government representatives; (c) lobbyists shall not make misleading, exaggerated or extravagant claims about, or otherwise misrepresent, the nature or extent of their access to Government representatives, members of political parties or to any other person; (d) lobbyists shall keep strictly separate from their duties and activities as lobbyists any personal activity or involvement on behalf of a political party; (e) when making initial contact with Government representatives with the intention of conducting lobbying activities, lobbyists who are proposing to conduct lobbying activities on behalf of clients must inform the Government representatives: (i) that they are lobbyists or employees of, or contractors or persons engaged by, lobbyists; (ii) whether they are currently listed on the Register of Lobbyists; (iii) the name of their relevant client or clients; and (iv) the nature of the matters that their clients wish them to raise with Government representatives.
Austria	Principles of lobbying and advocacy Lobbyists and company lobbyists are only allowed to engage in lobbying activities once they have been registered in the lobbying and advocacy register. For every contact with a public official, lobbyists must indicate their identity and the client on behalf of which they are conducting lobbying activities. Lobbyists must refrain from obtaining information in an unfair manner, present information truthfully, to refrain from any unfair or inadequate pressure on officials.
Belgium	Rules applicable to those who register By registering, companies, institutions, organisations and the natural persons concerned: agree that the information they provide to be listed on the website in the register are published, agree to act in accordance with the attached code of conduct to these Rules, ensure that the information they provide for inclusion in the register is correct and agree to cooperate in administrative requests for additional information and updates. Code of Conduct for Lobbyists: In the context of their relations with the House, lobbyists: (a) comply with the provisions of Rules applicable to those who register (b) declare to Members, their staff or officials of the institution the interest or interests they represent (c) refrain from taking any steps to obtain information dishonestly (d) may not claim any official relationship with the Chamber in any dealings with third parties (e) may not distribute copies of documents obtained from the Chamber to third parties for profit (f) ensure that they provide, at the time of registration and subsequently in the course of their activities covered by the register, information which they are aware is complete, up to date and not misleading (g) generally comply with all rules, codes and practices of good governance established by the Chamber and refrain from obstructing the implementation and enforcement of such rules, codes and practices.
Brazil	No specific duties and standards
Canada	Principles. Lobbyists must abide by core principles of respect for democratic institutions, including the duty of public office holders to serve, integrity and honesty, openness (being frank about their lobbying activities) and professionalism. Rules Transparency (i) Identity and purpose: when communicating with a public office holder, lobbyists must communicate their identity, the organisation or corporate on whose behalf the communication is made, as well as the reasons for the approach (ii) Accurate information: a lobbyist must take all reasonable measures to provide public office holders with information that is accurate and factual (iii) Duty to disclose: consultant lobbyists must inform each client of their obligations as lobbyists; the responsible office of an organisation shall ensure that employees who lobby on the organisation’s behalf are informed of their obligations. Use of information: lobbyists must use and disclose information received from a public office holder in the manner consistent with the purpose for which it was shared. Conflict of interest: a lobbyist shall not propose or undertake any action that would place a public office holder in a real or apparent conflict of interest. (i) Preferential access: a lobbyist shall not arrange for another person a meeting with a public office holder when the lobbyist and public office holder share a relationship that could reasonably be seen to create a sense of obligation. A lobbyist shall not lobby a public office holder with whom they share a relationship that could reasonably be seen to create a sense of obligation. (ii) Political activities: when a lobbyist undertakes political activities on behalf of a person which could reasonably be seen to create a sense of obligation, they may not lobby that person for specified period if that person is or becomes a public office holder. If that person is an elected official, the lobbyist shall also not lobby staff in their office(s). (iii) Gifts : to avoid the creation of a sense of obligation, a lobbyist shall not provide or promise a gift, favour, or other benefit to a public office holder, whom they are lobbying or will lobby, which the public office holder is not allowed to accept.
Chile	Duties of active subjects ( as specified in the Law) (i) Duty to inform: to request a hearing with a passive subject (lobbied person), the request must be made on a form including information on the people who will attend the meeting (full name, identity card, contact details) and the organisation they represent (name of the natural person, legal identification number, description of business activities, name of legal representative, name of members of the board of directors). The form must also contain information on whether lobbyists receive remuneration for the activity they carry out, as well as matters to be dealt with during the meeting, with specific reference to the decision to be obtained. (ii) Duty to provide additional information if required. The authority takes a decision on granting a hearing within three working days. They may request additional information. After the hearing, public officials may also request clarifying information within 10 working days of the meeting. The active subject then has 5 working days to respond in writing. Code of Good Practice for Lobbyists: Lobbyists must abide by the principles of honesty and integrity, transparency, professionalism, and compatibility of private and public interests (i.e. they may defend or represent particular interests as long as they do not contravene the public interest). They must comply with regulations applicable to lobbying activities, regulations on political participation (financing of political parties and election campaigns, and all regulations applicable to political participation), refrain from unlawful conduct or provoking unlawful conduct. In his/her relations with his/her clients, lobbyists must maintain loyalty to the client’s interests, devote adequate time to the representation of his/her interests. Clients must be informed in a timely manner on the obligations to which he/she is subject to. Lobbyists must not use privileged or confidential information to the detriment of their client, and refrain from advising to his client fraudulent or unlawful behaviour. The lobbyist should not accept any demand that would pose a risk to his/her ethical obligations or professional duties towards a client. A client has the right to report violations of the law by a lobbyist. When interacting with public authorities, the lobbyist shall provide the information required by law. He/she must inform precisely the issue or matter on which they engage in lobbying activities. The lobbyist ensures the truthfulness and accuracy of the information he/she gives to public authorities. Lobbyists must refrain from employing intermediaries to hide the link with his/her client. Lobbyists must report misconduct to the competent authority. They must refrain from offering any payment, commission, compensation or benefit to gain access to information or person, or to influence a decision. Lobbyists maintain their independence; they refrain from representing a particular interest of a client in conflict with that of another client. Lobbyists must inform their clients of any circumstances that could damage their independence or involve a conflict of interest. Lobbyists must refrain from influencing public authorities or civil servants with which he/she has or had a contractual or family relationship. They must not hire former public officials for two years after leaving office. Lobbyists must refrain from any political activity, or investing in the securities of the client without his/her permission.
Colombia	No specific duties and standards
Costa Rica	No specific duties and standards
Czech Republic	No specific duties and standards
Denmark	No specific duties and standards
Finland	No specific duties and standards
France	Ethical Rules for lobbyists (Law) Lobbyists shall conduct their activities with probity and integrity. They are required to: (i) Declare their identity, the organisation they work for and the interests or entities they represent in their relations with public officials; (ii) Refrain from offering or giving to public officials gifts, donations or any advantages of significant value; (iii) Refrain from inciting public officials to violate ethical rules applicable to them; (iv) Refrain from using fraudulent means to obtain information or decisions from public officials; (v) Refrain from obtaining or attempting to obtain information or decisions by deliberately misinforming public officials or by resorting to deceptive manoeuvres; (vi) Refrain from organising conferences, events or meetings in which public officials would be remunerated, in any way, for speaking; (vii) Refrain from using the information obtained from public officials for commercial or advertising purposes; (viii) Refrain from selling to third parties copies of documents of the government or of an independent administrative or public authority, and from using the letterhead and the logo of these public authorities and administrative bodies; (ix) Strive to comply with all the rules set out in points 1 to 8 in their relations with the direct entourage of public officials.
Germany	Principles of integrity for interest representation (Article 5 of the Lobby Law) 1. Representation of interests within the meaning of the Act may only be based on the principles of openness, transparency, honesty and integrity; 2. The German Bundestag and the Federal Government, with the participation of civil society, shall establish a code of conduct that contains guidelines for the exercise of interest representation; 3. Interest representatives shall accept this Code of Conduct when registering in the Lobby Register. 4. Interest representation must be transparent in every contact with the bodies, members, parliamentary parties or groups of the German Bundestag or the Federal Government. Interest representatives must disclose their identity and their field of activity as well as, if applicable, the identity and the field of activity of their clients. They must provide accurate information regarding their interest representation activities. 5. Registered interest representatives shall refer to their registration at the first contact with the respective bodies, members, parliamentary groups or groups of the German Bundestag or with the respective members of the Federal Government and shall name the codes of conduct on the basis of which interest representation is conducted. They should also mention if they refused to register financial information. 6. Agreements that make remuneration or its amount dependent on the success of the representation of interests (contingency fee) are inadmissible. 7. Interest representatives shall ensure that all information provided at the time of registration and thereafter in the course of activities falling within the scope of the register is accurate, complete, up-to-date and not misleading and that any necessary supplementary information and updates requested by the entity keeping the register are provided without undue delay. 8. If, after carrying out an appropriate verification procedure, the entity keeping the register finds that an interest representative has committed a not insignificant breach of the code of conduct referred to in paragraph 2, that finding shall be published in the register. A deletion of this notice in the register shall take place 24 months after the publication of the violation. 9. Registered interest representatives may publicly use the designation "registered interest representative" when they have registered and updated all information required (including financial information) and have not infringed any provision of the law.
Greece	No specific duties and standards
Hungary	No specific duties and standards
Ireland	Lobbyists must abide by core principles, including: (i) Demonstrating respect for public bodies; (ii) Acting with honesty and integrity; (iii) Ensuring accuracy of information; (iv) Disclosure of identity and purpose of lobbying activities to public bodies and elected or appointed officials; (v) Preserving confidentiality; (vi) Avoiding improper influence (e.g. creating a sense of obligation on the part of the elected or appointed official by making any offer of gifts or hospitality), (vii) Observing the provisions of the Regulation of Lobbying Act; and (viii) Having regard to the Code of Conduct.
Iceland	No specific duties and standards
Israel	Lobbyists should not : 1. Offer or grant to a Member of the Knesset a benefit as part of his efforts to promote the interests of their clients; 2. Mislead the Knesset member in relation to any material or fact presented to him/her; 3. Take action to persuade the Member of the Knesset by improper means, including pressure, threat, seduction or promise; 4. Obtain the commitment of a Knesset member to vote or act in a certain way; 5. Contact, in writing or orally, in connection with his activity as a lobbyist, the employee of the research and information center of the Knesset. A lobbyist staying in the Knesset is required to wear a unique identification badge he/she received from the Knesset stating his/her name, and if he/she operates within a corporation - also the name of the corporation. In his/her appeals to Knesset members and various Knesset members, the lobbyist must say that he/she is acting as a lobbyist in the Knesset with a permit, state the name of the client for whom he/she works and indicate what direct interest he/she seeks to promote. In addition, lobbyists present at a meeting of a Knesset committee are required to request that their names and other details regarding their activities be recorded in the minutes of the meeting.
Italy	Lobbyists must refrain from any behaviour likely to disrupt the orderly conduct of the proceedings of the Chamber and its bodies or to damage the prestige and decorum of the Chamber and the Institutions; in the event of violation of the obligation to refrain from such behaviour, they may be immediately removed from the premises of the Chamber.
Japan	No specific duties and standards
Korea	No specific duties and standards
Latvia	No specific duties and standards
Lithuania	(Article 4 of the Lobbying Law, “Rights and obligations of lobbyists). A lobbyist must: 1. Introduce himself/herself to a lobbied person, present a lobbyist’s certificate issued by the Chief Official Ethics Commission, indicate the client of lobbying activities, the beneficiary of lobbying activities and the lobbyist’s position on the adoption of the draft legal act. 2. Submit a lobbying report in accordance with the procedure laid down by the law; 3. Notify the Chief Official Ethics Commission if they are elected or appointment to a position covered by the definition of “lobbied persons”, no later than the date on which they commence their duties. 4. Act in compliance with the Law, other legal acts of the Republic of Lithuania and the Lobbyists’ Code of Ethics. 5. A lobbyist shall be prohibited from making gifts or promising remuneration to a lobbied person for an adopted or rejected legal act or administrative decision.
Luxembourg	No specific duties and standards
Mexico	No specific duties and standards
Netherlands	No specific duties and standards
New Zealand	No specific duties and standards
Norway	No specific duties and standards
Peru	“Duties of interest managers” 1. To observe ethical standards in the performance of their activities; 2. To inform the relevant bodies about the acts of interest management he or she carries out; 3. Report to the competent authority any breach or contravention of this Law; 4. Keep secret the information of a confidential nature to which they have access due to their activity. 5. Register the information required. Ethical standards include (i) refraining from formulating requirements that lead to the official with the capacity for public decision to fail to comply with any of his/her obligations; (ii) refraining from promising or granting benefits of any kind, providing services or delivering goods of any nature in favour of officials with public decision-making capacity, as well as their spouse or partner, or relatives; (iii) providing truthful information to public officials with decision-making capacity.
Poland	No specific duties and standards
Portugal	No specific duties and standards
Romania	No specific duties and standards
Slovak Republic	No specific duties and standards
Slovenia	Duty of identification: a lobbyist shall identify himself with the lobbied person, state the purpose and objective of the lobbying activity (Article 68) Duty of providing accurate and true information: A lobbyist may not provide incorrect, incomplete or misleading information to the persons lobbied (Article 70). A lobbyist is deleted from the Registry of Lobbyists (de facto can no longer legitimately perform lobbying activities) if it has been established that the data and documents used for entry into the register are false (Article 62). Duty to refrain from presenting gifts to the lobbied person: When carrying out lobbying activities, a lobbyist may not act in contravention of regulations on the prohibition of the acceptance of gifts in connection with the discharge of the duties of the office or public duties of the persons lobbied (Article 70).
Spain	No specific duties and standards
Sweden	No specific duties and standards
Switzerland	No specific duties and standards
Turkey	No specific duties and standards
United Kingdom	A person must not carry on the business of consultant lobbying unless the person is entered in the register of consultant lobbyists
United States	No specific duties and standards
EU	Interest representatives shall: (a) always identify themselves by name and, by registration number, if applicable, and by the entity or entities they work for or represent; declare the interests, objectives or aims they promote and, where applicable, specify the clients or members whom they represent; (b) not obtain or try to obtain information or decisions dishonestly or by use of undue pressure or inappropriate behaviour; (c) not claim any formal relationship with the European Union or any of its institutions in their dealings with third parties, or misrepresent the effect of registration in such a way as to mislead third parties or officials or other staff of the European Union, or use the logos of EU institutions without express authorisation; (d) ensure that, to the best of their knowledge, information, which they provide upon registration, and subsequently in the framework of their activities covered by the Register, is complete, up-to-date and not misleading; accept that all information provided is subject to review and agree to co-operate with administrative requests for complementary information and updates; (e) not sell to third parties copies of documents obtained from EU institutions; (f) in general, respect, and avoid any obstruction to the implementation and application of, all rules, codes and good governance practices established by EU institutions; (g) not induce Members of the institutions of the European Union, officials or other staff of the European Union, or assistants or trainees of those Members, to contravene the rules and standards of behaviour applicable to them; (h) if employing former officials or other staff of the European Union, or assistants or trainees of Members of EU institutions, respect the obligation of such employees to abide by the rules and confidentiality requirements which apply to them; (i) obtain the prior consent of the Member or Members of the European Parliament concerned as regards any contractual relationship with, or employment of, any individual within a Member's designated entourage; (j) observe any rules laid down on the rights and responsibilities of former Members of the European Parliament and the European Commission; (k) inform whomever they represent of their obligations towards the EU institutions.

Source: Additional research by the OECD Secretariat.

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Lobbying in the 21st Century

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Cite this content as:

Annex A. Detailed transparency and integrity standards on lobbying activities

Table A A.1. Public institutions, persons and decisions targeted by transparency requirements on lobbying activities

Table A A.2. Definitions of “lobbyist” and exemptions

Table A A.3. Definition of “lobbying activities” and exemptions

Table A A.4. Detailed information to be disclosed on lobbying activities by lobbyists and/or public officials

Table A A.5. Specific duties and standards of conduct related to lobbying activities for public officials

Table A A.6. Specific duties and standards of conduct related to lobbying activities for lobbyists

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