The joint transparency register for lobbyists and other interest groups is launched on 23 June. The main advantage of this joint register is providing one source of information for citizens and lobbyist will have to register once.

Diana Wallis, Vice-President and Parliament's negotiator leader on this issue, hopes that by launching this joint register for interest representatives between the Commission and the Parliament, it will help to install a more solid culture of transparency. She added that the register will demonstrate that the European institutions are working together. Ms Wallis also hopes that the Council will now announced its willingness to take steps in joining them.

Although the registration will not be mandatory, MEPs have decided that all lobbyists wishing to enter Parliament's premises will have to register. The transparency register will provide more information than its predecessors, such as how many people are involved in any activities relating to the register, and any EU funding or support received by the registrant. It will also set out procedures for handling complaints and sanctions.

The agreement on the launching joint register was reached in November 2010 after negotiations between the Commission and the European Parliament. In May, the final decision in launching the the register was taken. The joint register will replace the current Register of Interest representatives of the European Commission and List of Lobbyists accredited to the European Parliament.