Study for the European Parliament on ethics and lobbying

Lobbying, i.e. influencing legislation and other forms of policy-making, is often (with good reason) viewed critically. It is difficult to ban lobbying; hence, it is all the more important that it should be conducted according to transparent and ethical rules. In this context, Jean Monnet Professor Markus Frischhut at MCI has elaborated a study for the European Parliament regarding a new and independent ethics body. “The EU is often misperceived because of the geographical distance. It is therefore all the more important that the EU gains justified trust through the highest ethical standards,” explains Dr. Frischhut, Jean Monnet Professor and Study Coordinator European Union Law at MCI. This study analysed similar ethics bodies at the EU level, as well as in France, Canada and Ireland, to outline a common, independent and strong body for the EU. The study answers the following questions:

• What ethical requirements are EU institutions subject to?
• What are conflicts of interest and how can they be avoided?
• Can such provisions even be important after the end of an official activity (keyword: revolving door effect)?
• What competencies does such an ethics body need to play a strong role?
• Finally yet importantly, how can ethics be defined or concretized for the EU?

This study, commissioned by the European Parliament’s Policy Department for Citizens’ Rights and Constitutional Affairs at the request of the AFCO Committee, provides an overview of transparency and integrity-related elements in the current EU setting and was presented online by Frischhut to this committee on November 19, 2020.

Dr. Markus Frischhut is more than happy to get in touch and to answer any further questions:

Prof. Dr. Markus Frischhut, LL.M.

Jean Monnet Professor and Study Coordinator European Union Law

+43 512 2070 – 3632
markus.frischhut@mci.edu