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Adopted text

Harmonised requirements in the internal market on transparency of third countries interest representation

TA-10-2025-0306 · P10_TA(2025)0306 · PE770.287

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Parliament's amended version of the proposed directive sets harmonised minimum transparency requirements for interest representation activities carried out on behalf of third countries in the EU internal market. It requires entities to register in national registers before starting activities, with exemptions for certain activities, and establishes a central public access portal. It includes safeguards to prevent stigmatisation and protect fundamental rights, and allows restrictions on publication in justified cases. It sets rules on sanctions, circumvention, and cooperation among national authorities.

Key points

  1. The directive applies to interest representation services provided to third-country sponsors and comparable in-house activities, but excludes official authority, media services, legal advice, and certain civil society activities.
  2. Entities must register in a national register before starting activities, and registration is free of charge and done electronically.
  3. Subcontractors informed of the third-country nature are exempt from registration and record-keeping obligations.
  4. A central public access portal will interconnect national registers and offer a search service in all EU languages.
  5. Registered entities must update their information without undue delay for certain changes and at least annually.
  6. Supervisory authorities may restrict public access to registration information upon request or ex officio to protect fundamental rights.
  7. Member States must ensure that no adverse consequences or stigmatisation arise from registration, and data must be presented neutrally.
  8. Supervisory authorities can request additional information when annual amounts exceed EUR 1 000 000 from a single third-country sponsor.
  9. Member States must lay down effective, proportionate and dissuasive administrative fines, with a prior warning except for circumvention.
  10. Circumvention activities, such as covert remuneration or artificial distribution to avoid thresholds, must be addressed.
  11. The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts for the portal and other technical measures, with a five-year delegation period.
  12. Member States must transpose the directive within eighteen months from its entry into force.

Who is affected

  • Entities providing interest representation services on behalf of third countries, including subcontractors and legal representatives.
  • Third-country sponsors whose interests are represented in the EU.
  • Civil society organisations, which are exempt when acting in the public interest and not as service providers.
  • National authorities responsible for registers and supervision.

Figures and deadlines

  • EUR 1 000 000 annual amount threshold for requesting additional information from a registered entity.
  • Five working days for processing registration requests and issuing confirmations.
  • Four years for keeping records after an activity ceases.
  • Eighteen months from entry into force for transposition.
  • Five-year delegation period for delegated acts, extendable.