Lobbyists in the buildings where political and economic decisions are made. The Senate is moving towards the definitive yes to the recognition of the institutional relations activity for the representation of interests, thus concluding what has already been approved by the Chamber on the discipline oflobbying activities.
The subject is being brought to the attention of the Constitutional Affairs commission of Palazzo Madama, which starts the examination on Tuesday in the drafting office.
Lobby: here are the new rules
Therefore, after 3 years of parliamentary process, Italy too will have regulation of lobbies. It is established a transparency register of the activity of representation of interests before the Competition and Market Authority, with which the subjects who intend to carry out this task are obliged to register.
It also establishes who are the public decision makers? where the 'lobbyists' carry out their activities: parliamentarians and members of the government, representatives of the bodies of territorial autonomy, presidents and members of independent authorities, top bodies of state bodies, holders of top positions of territorial bodies and other bodies public, responsible for the offices of direct collaboration with the institutions and bodies mentioned by the new regulation.
Lobbyist meetings must be transparent and documented, and therefore for each event must be indicated
1) place, date, time and duration of the meeting;
2) method of requesting the meeting and person who formulated the request;
3) object of the meeting;
4) participants in the meeting.
Lobbies: the exceptions
The provisions envisaged by the text approved by the Chamber and now being examined by the Senate do not apply However:
a) to journalists and public officials for relations with public decision-makers relating to the exercise of their profession or function;
b) to people who maintain relationships or establish contacts with public decision-makers to collect statements intended for publication;
c) representatives of governments and political parties, movements and groups of foreign states;
d) to representatives of recognized religious denominations;
e) the activity carried out by political parties, movements and groups to determine state, regional or local politics pursuant to article 49 of the Constitution;
f) reports, objects and news the publicity of which constitutes a violation of the rules on State, official, professional or confessional secrecy;
g) institutional communication activity.
The penalties
Obviously, the procedures for participation in the consultation provided apply to the interest representative who does not comply penalties commensurate with the seriousness of the conduct: from admonition to censure up to cancellation from the register with the Authority.
