Could registration cover for instance Think Tanks, law firms etc.?
Would these people need to register as well? Part of society is heavily criticising Think Tanks and say some are also lobbying organisations, but they are a bit different. If Think Tanks are actually involved in lobbying, then public information should be made available. But, yes, why not have public information about think thanks? There is no doubt that Think Tanks, in the voluntary registration scenario, could provide the same information as other organisations. If it is mandatory, then you get into the problem of defining whether they are lobbying or not and many of them will argue they are not in order to escape registration. This proves the point I made in the beginning, that the voluntary scenario is the Commission’s preferred option. Why do you use the word lobbying? Most organisations will not define themselves as doing lobbying but public affairs, which has a wider definition. Think Tanks for example, do influence public policies, it is their raison d’être, therefore they are
