Shining a light on EU decision-making: The European Transparency
Register
The European Union’s Transparency Register
[https://transparency-register.europa.eu/index_en] is a publicly
accessible database that shows which organisations and individuals
seek to influence EU policy and decision-making. Managed jointly by
the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the
European Commission, the register lists all the interest
representatives in Europe, such as non-governmental organisations and
consultancies. It provides information on who they represent, which
policies they aim to influence, and the resources they use. By making
these activities visible, the register strengthens accountability and
enables citizens to better understand how EU decisions are shaped. 

Interest representation, often referred to as ‘lobbying’, is a
legitimate and important part of democratic policymaking. Thousands of
organisations engage with EU institutions to share expertise and
perspectives on legislation and initiatives. With the help of the
transparency reigster, the EU ensures that these interactions are
conducted in an open and ethical manner. Registrants must follow a
common code of conduct and disclose information such as their goals,
clients, and funding sources. In many cases, registration is
effectively required to meet high-level EU officials or participate in
policy discussions, reinforcing the system’s role as a gateway to
transparent engagement. 

The register also functions as an online, searchable dataset that
allows journalists, researchers, and citizens to analyse lobbying
trends, funding patterns, and policy priorities across Europe. By
publishing structured information about interest representation, the
register contributes to data-driven transparency and supports
initiatives such as the European Data Portal. This enables innovative
reuse of public sector information, for example, in tools that track
lobbying activities over time. 

Visit the official register website
[https://transparency-register.europa.eu/index_en] to search existing
entries, learn about registration requirements or discover how
decisions are influenced at European level. By engaging with this
resource, you can better understand, and participate in, the
democratic processes that shape Europe’s future. 

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Publication Date/Time
2026-07-08T08:00:00+00:00
How the European Union helps citizens understand who influences its
policies