-------- Original Message --------
Thanks to Barbara Stratton, CILIP. From Amicus, the UK's largest
manufacturing, technical and skilled persons' union.
*New rule restricts EU lobbying*
The European Parliament has implemented a new rule that severely
restricts access to voluntary organisations for lobbying purposes. The
new rule means only organisations that have a base in Brussels can apply
for passes to the Parliament. The new restrictions will have a serious
impact on UK lobbyists without a Brussels base, who previously would
have had unlimited access to the Parliament. In the future lobbyists
will have to arrange for a staff member from an MEP’s office to sign in
and chaperone them. The NCVO (National Council of Voluntary
Organisations, UK) is currently liasing with the Parliament security
department to see if there are ways in which this issue can be overcome.
Rachael Maskell, Amicus National Officer said “although we can see the
problems involved with ensuring that security and safety at the
Parliament are properly addressed, Amicus is very unhappy with the
restrictions being put in place for organisations within the sector.
This will have a detrimental effect on smaller organisations who do not
have a base in Brussels for economic reasons but may nevertheless have
serious issues to discuss. This rule represents a significant reversal
of the Parliament’s historic commitment to open democracy and civil
dialogue” For further information contact Nolan Quigley at the NCVO, on
020-7520-2550 or email _Nolan.Quigley(a)ncvo-vol.org.uk_
<mailto:Nolan.Quigley@ncvo-vol.org.uk>
/Amicus in the Community & Non profit Sector, Issue 10, June 2005/
