EU lobbyists set up panel to ensure ethics upheld

BRUSSELS, May 31 (Reuters) A major umbrella group for lobbyists on European Union policy-making set up an independent panel today to discipline members who step over the mark as ethics in the industry come under scrutiny.

The European Public Affairs Consultancies' Association (EPACA) said the panel would police a code of conduct and had the power to recommend disciplinary action such as suspension or expulsion.

Aggressive lobbying over recent EU chemicals and sofware patenting legislation, along with a lobbying scandal in the United States have turned a spotlight on the industry.

''If somebody gets kicked out they will automatically go on a blacklist. It has enormous consequences for your credibility,'' panel member Pierre Mathijsen told reporters.

Mathijsen, a former senior European Commission official, said any expulsions would be made public.

''Brussels is a village and it quickly gets round which means you will be damaged in your ability to influence policy,'' said Stanley Crossick, a fellow panel member and founding chairman of the European Policy Centre think-tank The European Commission wants all lobbyists to sign a voluntary code of conduct and register their interests to make clear who they are working for. It has threatened a mandatory system if the voluntary approach is ineffective.

EPACA represents 34 public affairs consultancies employing 700 people, but the industry also includes non-governmental organisations, law firms and other associations, with estimates that numbers range from a few thousand to 15,000.

It wants member firms to make signing its code of conduct a condition of employment.

The European parliament makes all lobbyists abide by a similar code of conduct if they want access to the assembly.

REUTERS CH KP0003