reported in June of this blog to " Brussels 'desire for alternatives to the expert-monopoly of the banks' . went This is a call from MEPs establishing a counter-lobby from civil society: NGOs, trade unions, academics and others to create an organization that will provide the alternative expertise to regulate financial markets, because the politicians have found that, when the regulation actually only. draw on the expertise of banks, insurance and funds.
The cross-party initiative now seems to take away. Under the name Finance Watch came loud FTD recently for the first time the participants of the new NGO in Berlin together. Finance Watch, but probably based in Brussels. Among the supporters of the foundation phase included Attac, Transparency International, Oxfam, Misereor, European Trade Union Confederation, the European Consumers' Organisation BEUC, accountants and small shareholder associations, the Viadrina School of Governance, as well as individuals from the financial industry and scientists.
The Green member Sven Giegold (including Attac closely) is one of the brains behind the idea. The FTD quoted him, should produce Finance Watch expertise and engage in active lobbying and campaign work : "To connect to an alternative, independent force in addition to the active lobbying of the banks." A public financing had long excluded. "The funding will be dispersed as to prevent a specific influence," said Giegold. A Swiss foundation ( "Fondation pour le progrès de l'Homme" ) finance the start. After exploratory meeting in Brussels, Paris and Berlin in early February was a great kick-off meeting vorgesehent in Brussels. By the summer should be Finance Watch fully functional and active.
The FTD says, should also look forward to EU Internal Market Commissioner Michel Barnier. He wanted to push back the influence of lobbyists on the bank financial regulation. Distance industry players had in a "balanced" to speak.
Another example of Brussels like "lobbied us!" calls and is not afraid to be in the interest of Balance obstetrics lobby for new organizations to provide start-up and continuous funding. Of which have environmental benefits of energy-up to women and science groups, so many NGOs can. Mostly it was, however, the Commission, which took the initiative. The public appeal of Parlamantariern from the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee was a novelty.
You can also see in a demonstration that the EP is increasingly self-confident and just after the crisis in financial matters to the Commission and their favorite lobbyists do not want to give all the responsibility.
it should not be overlooked that the deputies repeatedly poor provision of the House have criticized: Parliament has still not Research Services as the Bundestag (Division "W" with about 270 employees, a third of academics) or wants we set the standard even higher, the U.S. Congress with its Congressional Research Service . The CRS has approximately 900 employees and a budget of $ 100 million, plus still get the Congressional Budget Office, which takes care of financial matters, and the Government Accountability Office. CRS, CBO, and GAO together have about 4,000 employees. The influence of the lobby, with its experts and expertise in the Congress is of course great, but the vote in addition to their rather large personal staffs always also the possibility of the government and lobby information with analysis and policy advice from their own apparatus to counter. This contributes significantly to the information and independence of the Congress at.
As long as something for the EP parliamentarians is not available, the initiation and promotion of civil society actors is probably the easiest way to tap into alternative information systematically. But lobbying is lobbying.
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