In the context of the current discussions concerning the future of the Europe’s transparency register -a joined initiative of the European Parliament and the European Commission-, a high-level meeting between lobby groups, interest representatives and EC Vice-President, Maroš Šefčovič, took place on the 5th of June in Brussels. The purpose of the meeting was to get input from the different lobby groups and associations about the results achieved so far, the practical aspects related to the extend and feasibility of financial data publication and whether it should be a mandatory or voluntary register.

AER was invited as representative of sub-national public authorities which have also been invited to join the transparency register. Even though AER strongly supports the transparency initiative, it insisted on the fact that regions are not corporate or private lobbyists, but representatives of public authorities, democratically elected by the citizens.

To avoid any confusion, AER asked for a clear distinction between public and private interests and a reference to citizens as the primary beneficiaries of such a register.