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The Plenum of the Parliament passed a law regulating the activity of "lobbying". 29 MPs voted in favour and the three ELAM MPs voted against it.
This law, the "Transparency in Public Decision-Making and Related Matters Law of 2019", aims to bring the Republic of Cyprus into compliance with a recommendation of the GRECO Committee of the Council of Europe regarding the prevention and combating of corruption.
In particular, the proposed legislation regulates the activity of "lobbying" in order to ensure transparency in the contacts of persons interested in being involved in the decision-making process on issues related to the executive or legislative power with officials or members of the state service or the wider public sector, who by virtue of their position have a decisive role in shaping the final outcome of these procedures.
The law clearly states that the scope of the proposed law is limited to interest groups that have an economic and/or financial benefit and/or interest in being involved in a public decision-making process.
The scope of the law excludes agricultural organisations and issues related to the executive and/or legislative power, which concern the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms,
In his statement at the plenary session, DISY MP and Chairman of the Institutions Committee Dimitris Demetriou spoke about the establishment of another step of transparency in the Cypriot state, stating that transparency is the best antidote to complicity and corruption,
In his speech at the plenary session, DISY MP and Chairman of the Institutions Committee Dimitris Demetriou spoke about the establishment of another step of transparency in the Cypriot state, stating that transparency is the best antidote to complicity and corruption. He said that by holding meetings with representatives of financial and business interests "we protect ourselves first and foremost."
He spoke of a workable and effective law and thanked both the Minister of Justice for her contribution, as well as MPs from all political parties and said that the law takes the first steps in this regard.
He added that "lobbying" is not a bad thing and with it not only financial and business interests are served, but also other interests, such as ecological ones.
He added that there are other things that need to be done in this direction such as the law on Ethics which is already in the Committee on Institutions and the legislation on incompatibility.
He also said that with this piece of legislation the circle of three important anti-corruption laws that Cyprus was obliged to cover is closed and these are the laws on whistleblowers, the Anti-Corruption Authority and "lobbying". Now, he said, what remains is their implementation.
ELAM President Christos Christou expressed his disagreement with this particular piece of legislation, stating that its implementation does not take into account particular local characteristics of the small society of Cyprus.
These approaches, he said, are not only wrong, but they place restrictions on the guaranteed constitutional rights, the freedom of expression.
ELAM President Christos Christou expressed his disagreement with this particular piece of legislation, stating that its implementation does not take into account particular local characteristics of the small society of Cyprus.
These approaches, he said, are not only wrong, but they place restrictions on the guaranteed constitutional rights, the freedom of expression.
AKEL MP Andreas Pasiourtides said that while it was true that when the bill came into force it actually made the daily life of MPs more difficult, however, following suggestions and proposals made, the protection first of people who want to have contact with the administration and then of the officials themselves was strengthened. He said that there were exceptions including for trade unions and agricultural organizations and issues related to the protection of fundamental rights and basic freedoms, while it was institutionalized that the law includes groups that want to serve business and economic interests.
Source: CNA
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