Brussels, 23 June 2011 Council statement on the "Transparency Register"

Source: Council of the European Union (Council) i, published on Thursday, June 23 2011.

Council statement on the "Transparency Register"

The Council considers transparency as a principle of paramount importance for the European Union. The treaties provide that, in order to promote good governance and ensure the participation of civil society, the Union's institutions, bodies, offices and agencies shall conduct their work as openly as possible and that decisions shall be taken as openly and as closely as possible to the citizens.

  • In line with these provisions, the Council remains committed to giving the fullest possible effect to the principle of transparency. It also recognises that citizens expect that those who act on their behalf at the EU i level respect the highest possible standards.
  • The Council therefore welcomes and supports the initiative undertaken by the European Parliament and the Commission to establish a joint "Transparency Register".
  • The Council considers that transparency should guide relations with interest representatives and that the Register provides a useful basis on which to build and interact with them in an open, inclusive and consistent fashion.
  • The Council has received the invitation of the European Parliament and the Commission to join the Register. The Council is ready to consider having a role in the Register and looks forward to discuss the possible modalities with the two other institutions.