The European Commission has adopted a code of conduct containing clear and precise rules for interest representatives in their dealings with Commission staff. The code of conduct is joined with the register of interest representatives which the Commission will launch on 23 June 2008, and acceptance of the code will be a requirement for entry in the register.

The code of conduct was adopted following extensive public consultations held between December 2007 and February 2008. The code sets out general principles,such as openness, honesty and integrity which should guide the activities of interest representatives when they are dealing with the European Commission.

The code also formulates seven clear rules of behaviour that interest representatives are expected to respect. Commission Vice-President Kallas said: "This is not about the Commission telling lobbyists how to behave. In fact, we have only consolidated in one text the principles the profession itself already adheres to. The new thing is that all lobbyists commit to the same code, and accept that their adherence to the code be subject to independent scrutiny, enforcement and sanctions."

In its communication "Follow-up to the Green Paper 'European Transparency Initiative'", the European Commission decided to set up a register for interest representatives. All actors engaged in activities "with the objective of influencing the policy formulation and decision-making processes of the European institutions" are invited to register and to disclose some information in order to enhance the transparency of the relations between interest representatives and the European Commission. Acceptance of the content of the code of conduct will be a requirement for entry in the register.

Together with the code of conduct, the Commission adopted a communication "European Transparency Initiative – A framework for relations with interest representatives (Register – Code of Conduct)", where it provides further information on the register, in particular on the activities for which registration is expected and on the entities which are expected to register.