Regulating lobbying:

This comparative table provides an overview of the different approaches

adopted by countries with regard to lobbying regulation.

international comparative table Last update: June 2023

Date and Organisation Number of

Sanctions for
Geographical amendments responsible Definition registered Content Frequency Link to
Definition of «Lobbyist» breach of reporting Control methods
area to the for of «Lobbying activity» lobbyists of declarations of declarations the register
or ethical obligations
lobbying law the register (30/04/2023)

All companies, institutions

All activities via which
a direct influence
Ministry is exerted on the legislator
Austria 2013
of Justice or the government body
via structured and
organised contacts
and associations asserting
the individual interests Administrative penalties
Purpose and value
of persons or companies, up to EUR 60,000 lobbyreg.
389 of spending on Annual Unspecified
or the collective interests justiz.gv.at
lobbying activities Removal from the register
of several persons or
companies, before public
authorities

Preliminary assessments
• Identity of the public
Investigations: may assign
officials contacted
and ensure the presence
• Public institution targeted Re-registration every of an individual, and
Any communication or Fine (up to CAD 200,000)
Consultant lobbyist and • Data on clients initiating six months require the production
1989, 1995, 2003, Lobbying request for a meeting with Maximum prison sentence of documents lobbycanada.
Canada salaried lobbyist acting 5,207 lobbying activities If contact with
2008 Commission a “public office holder” of two years gc.ca
in a paid capacity • Subject and purpose a public official, monthly In the case of a violation
about certain public policies Two-year lobbying ban
of lobbying activities communication report of the Act or Code, notifies
a competent justice official
• Type of public decision
targeted 16 investigation reports
since 2011

A natural or legal person

in private law who carries
Department All activities conducted out active preparation
of Justice of with the aim of directly work in public policies • Identity of clients initiating Temporary suspension
the Generalitat or indirectly influencing or decision-making lobbying activities from the register Validation of the registered
According to the code
2014, 2016, 2017, de Catalunya the processes of preparing processes in Catalonia information governobert.
Catalonia 5,219 • Value of expenditure, of conduct of In the event of a serious
2021 and General or applying policies with the aim of influencing gencat.cat
type and purpose each organisation breach, removal No investigations afterwards
Directorate and decision-making, the direction of these
of Law and regardless of the means policies in alignment of lobbying activities from the register
Legal Entities or methods used with their own interests
or those of third parties,
or the general interest

• General information
about the entity
Monitoring is performed
• Links to EU institutions of new applications, or via
(legislative proposals, Temporary suspension targeted quality controls
Activities carried out by
initiatives targeted) from the register and as a follow up to
interest representatives
Management Formal warning complaints or as part
with the objective Any natural or legal person, • Financial information Obligatory annual update,
Board and to the registrant of own-investigations
European of influencing the or formal or informal group, with an invitation to update
Secretariat EU institutions also publish
2011, 2014, 2021 formulation or association or network, 12,154 every 6 months and Removal from the register In addition, 4 238 targeted ec.europa.eu
Union of the information on the
implementation of policy that engages in covered a further obligation to quality checks were
Transparency registrations, including on Prohibition of reregistration
or legislation, or the activities update upon request performed by the Secretariat
Register membership of Commission for a period of up to 2 years
decision-making processes in 2022. It received 65 new
expert groups, accredited and publication of the
of the EU institutions complaints and opened
individuals at the European measure on the website
13 own-investigation cases
Parliament, list of meetings
against registered entities
with the European
Commission, and other
 Date and Organisation Number of
Sanctions for
Geographical amendments responsible Definition registered Content Frequency Link to
Definition of «Lobbyist» breach of reporting Control methods
area to the for of «Lobbying activity» lobbyists of declarations of declarations the register
or ethical obligations
lobbying law the register (30/04/ 2023)

For lobbying activities:

Any communication
to influence a member
National Audit
Finland 2023 of Parliament or
Office
Governement involved in
public decision-making
• The party who is being
influenced by lobbying
• The topic(s) concerning
which they were contacted
• The primary methods
for maintaining contact
• Financial information Twice a year for
Legal persons and private No control of the information
Law 430/2023 the operating notification
operators who lobby declared in the register
will enter into force Fines vtv.fi
or advise Parliament For consultancy activities: Annual for financial in advance, only an ex-post
on 01/01/2024
and ministries information supervision
• The client’s identity
• Information on who/what
they focus their lobbying
activities on
• Information on the type
of support provided to the
client
• Financial information

Power of on-site
documentary control,
• Type of public official without recourse to
Natural person as part
Any communication contacted; expenses the defence of
of a professional activity,
initiated by the interest • Type and purpose of professional secrecy
High or legal entity in which Fine (EUR 15,000)
representative to certain interest representation
Authority for an executive manager,
France 2016 public officials with regard 2,584 Annual Maximum prison sentence hatvp.fr
Transparency an employee or a • Type of public decision 163 controls of interest
to certain public decisions of one year
in Public Life member conducts interest in question representatives launched
with a view to influencing
representation work as in 2022 (77 controls of
such decisions • Link to professional
their main or regular activity unregistered representatives
organisations
and 86 controls of annual
declarations)

• Identity of the natural

Any contact made for
the purpose of directly
or indirectly influencing
the process of formulating
Parliament aims or taking decisions
Germany 2021
(Bundestag) conducted by the bodies,
Members, parliamentary
groups or groupings of
the German Bundestag or
by the Federal Government
or legal person or
organisation
• Description of activities
and areas of interest
All natural or legal persons, Annual for general entries No control of the imported
• Identity of clients whose
partnerships or other Some information relating information in the register
interests the registrant
organisations, which to names, addresses, in advance, only
represents Fine (up to EUR 50,000)
engage in the representation contact details etc, an elaborated ex-post lobbyregister.
5,896 • Number of employees Ban on access to the supervision
of special interests has to be updated no later bundestag.de
themselves or commission involved with the premises of the Bundestag
than the end of the quarter Entries that have not been
such representation representation of interests
following the occurrence updated in time are publicly
on their behalf • Financial expenditure of the change annotated as «not updated»
involved in the
representation of interests
• Individual allowances
and grants from
the public purse
 Date and Organisation Number of
Sanctions for
Geographical amendments responsible Definition registered Content Frequency Link to
Definition of «Lobbyist» breach of reporting Control methods
area to the for of «Lobbying activity» lobbyists of declarations of declarations the register
or ethical obligations
lobbying law the register (30/04/ 2023)

• The institutional body to

Any type of direct
communication between
an interest representative,
National at its initiative, and
Greece 2021 Transparency an institutional body, which
Authority (NTA) is intended to influence
the decision-making
process and which is carried
out for remuneration
Any natural or legal person
who carries out lobbying
activities with remuneration
through his/her contact
with institutional bodies,
for and on behalf of
his/her client
whom the lobbying activity
was addressed
• The policy area and NTA shall examine any
the type of decision possible non-compliance
they targeted Fines (ranging from with the obligations of
40-50 lobbyists EUR 5,000 to EUR 20,000) interest representatives
• The identity of the person
estimation by Annual Suspension from lobbying Inspectors shall invite lobbying.aead.gr
who carried out the
the end of 2023 activities and from in writing the interest
lobbying activity
the Register representative to provide
• The client, the time and explanations within
manner of the lobbying one month
activity
• The intended result
of the lobbying activity

2015, 2016, 2019,

Legal entity with at least May require anyone
2022 (the law
10 employees carrying out to supply information
is reviewed
lobbying activities; or any • Identity of public officials Automatic penalty and produce documents
one year after
professional lobbyist paid contacted (EUR 200) for sending late
its adoption Standards Any communication with May enter and search
to communicate on declarations
and then every in Public a designated public • Data on clients initiating premises, inspect and take
Ireland behalf of a client; or any 2,468 Every four months lobbying.ie
three years). Office (SIPO) officer that relates to lobbying activities Maximum fine of EUR 2,500 copies of any document
representative or advocacy
Under the 2022 Commission a “relevant matter” • Type, subject and purpose Maximum prison sentence In 2021, 399 automatic
bodies with at least one
Amendment bill of lobbying activities of two years penalties for late submission
employee; anyone lobbying
(not yet in law) of the activity declaration
about development
it will be every were issued
or rezoning of land
5 years

• Identity of the lobbyist

• Identity of the client
of lobbying activities
Actions taken by a natural • Title of the legal act or
or legal person, in an Suspension from the register
A natural person, a legal the draft legal act being
attempt to exert influence (and thus from rights
person, another organization targeted
Chief official over defined public officials of access to meetings To inspect lobbying
or a division thereof • Brief description of In the seven days following and consultations that
Lithuania 2001, 2017, 2020 ethics to have legal acts adopted 320 activities and receive skaidris.vtek.lt
engaged in lobbying the subject matter, the lobbying activity are conditional upon
commission or rejected in the interests information from lobbyists
activities. Non-profit which the legal act aims membership of the register)
of the client or the
organisations are excluded to change
beneficiary of lobbying Fines
activities • Name of the authority
or institution lobbied
• Name and position of
the public official lobbied
 Date and Organisation Number of
Sanctions for
Geographical amendments responsible Definition registered Content Frequency Link to
Definition of «Lobbyist» breach of reporting Control methods
area to the for of «Lobbying activity» lobbyists of declarations of declarations the register
or ethical obligations
lobbying law the register (30/04/ 2023)

The Registrar may

Communication which uses
the opportunity to inform
or influence a member
of the Scottish Parliament,
Scottish
Scotland 2016 a member of the Scottish
Parliament
Government, a subordinate
Scottish minister, a special
adviser or the permanent
secretary
Any person or organisation
issue notices to request
that engages in face-
• Identity of public officials information. Investigations
to-face communication
contacted can also be carried out by
(including video
Scotland’s Ethical Standards
conferences) with a defined • Identity of clients initiating
1,301 Every six months Report to Parliament Commissioner, who can then lobbying.scot
public official, if they are lobbying activities
report to Parliament. Very
discussing governmental • Type and purpose
serious allegations can be
or parliamentary of lobbying activities
passed directly to the Crown
functions and acting
Office (Scotland’s public
in a paid capacity
prosecution service)

Any natural or legal person • Identity of lobbyist or legal

registered in the Lobbyists person; number and date
Registry of decision on entry in
Communication in writing
Lobbying may also be the Register of lobbyists
Agency for targeting a public official
carried out by an individual • Identity of clients initiating Misdemeanor fine The Registrar may
prevention with the name of the law publicacas.
Serbia 2018 who is not registered if he or 45 lobbying activities Annual issue notices
of corruption or regulation which is the Removal from the register acas.rs
she is a legal representative to request information
(APC) subject of the lobbying • Subject matter and
activities or employee of an enterprise
purpose of lobbying
for which he or she carries
out lobbying activities • Data on the lobbied
(unregistered lobbyist) persons and authorities

Any non-public contact
established between
Commission a natural person and
for the a defined public official
Slovenia 2010, 2011, 2020
Prevention with the aim of influencing
of Corruption the content or the adoption
procedure of public
decisions
• Identity of registered
lobbyist or interest group
• Payment received from
interest groups for each
matter concerned
• Purpose and objective of
lobbying for a particular
interest group
Any person who is engaged • The names of state bodies
in lobbying and who is and officials targeted
registered in the register
• Types and methods
of lobbyists, or any person
82 of lobbying
who is engaged in lobbying
and is an employee of an • The type and value
interest group and lobbies of donations made to
on its behalf political parties and the
organisers of electoral and
referendum campaigns
Registered lobbysts or
interest groups: annual
Lobbied officials:
within 8 days of the contact
Lobbyists:
• Administrative sanctions
(from a ban on lobbying
activities on a particular
matter, to a removal from
the register);
• Minor-offence sanctions.
Lobbied officials or interest
group:
• Minor-offence sanctions
Crosschecking between
annual reports of registered
lobbyists, interest groups,
and records of the officials
lobbied
kpk-rs.si
The CPC can initiate
a minor-offence proceeding
and reach a decision
on the offence whereupon
it may impose a sanction

Lobbied officials also have

to declare every contact with
a lobbyst within eigt days
(including name of lobbyist,
area of lobbying, purpose,
date and place of contact)
 Date and Organisation Number of
Sanctions for
Geographical amendments responsible Definition registered Content Frequency Link to
Definition of «Lobbyist» breach of reporting Control methods
area to the for of «Lobbying activity» lobbyists of declarations of declarations the register
or ethical obligations
lobbying law the register (30/04/ 2023)

Communications
(in person, writing or
Review of published
information (transparency
UK VAT registered data, media reports etc)
organisations and to identify unregisterd
individuals who Civil penalty (max £ 7,500) consultant lobbying

United Registrar digitally) made personally communicate personally Clients lobbied for, or referral for criminal Registrar investigations
2014 of Consultant with Government Ministers with Government Ministers 212 or paid to lobby for Quarterly prosecution for a fine can be supported orcl.my.site.com
Kingdom Lobbyists or Permanent Secretaries or Permanent Secretaries in previous quarter (criminal route has not by Information Notices
(and equivalents) (and equivalents) been used) Civil Penalty Notices can be
on behalf of a client on behalf of a third party issued for late or inaccurate
and in return for payment quarterly information
returns and for unregistered
consultant lobbying

• Public institution
Any person employed by in question;
a client for financial gain 4,220 cases of potential
Any oral, written or electronic • Data on clients initiating
Office of whose services include more Fine (between $US 50,000 of potential breaches
communication addressed lobbying activities
United the House of than one lobbying contract $US 200,000) of theLobbying disclosurespre-
1946, 1995, 2007 to certain defined public 12,644 • Type of public decision Quarterly
States Representatives and whose lobbying Maximum prison sentence Disclosure Act sent to view.house.gov
officials concerning in question
Senate Office activities account for more of five years the prosecutor between
a public policy
than 20% of their time; • Value of expenditure, 2009 and 2019
or any salaried lobbyist type and purpose
of lobbying activities