On 31 January MEPs voted in favour of amending the rules setting out how the European Parliament functions. They added a text to ensure transparency in meetings members involved in the preparation of a specific legislative act hold with representatives of organisations that might stand to benefit or lose from that proposal.

Parliament decided that when MEPs act as rapporteurs, shadow rapporteurs or committee chairs, they are obliged to publish their scheduled meetings with interest representatives on Parliament’s website. Other MEPs are also encouraged to publish online information on such meetings.

“These updated rules will help make the Parliament more open, transparent, and accountable to citizens,” said UK S&D member Richard Corbett, who wrote the report.