"The American tradition of corporate money behind political campaigning fired up a debate about transparency, and now strict rules force companies, think tanks and lobbyists in the United States to reveal their financial relationships.
But transparency in European lobbying circles is still not obligatory. Perhaps lobbyists in Europe are considered to have less influence over decision-making than in the US. But the reality is that the number of lobbyists roaming the corridors of the EU institutions has been steadily increasing. Today, an estimated 15,000 lobbyists are operating in Brussels, a large majority of them representing corporate interests. Yet, transparency rules are virtually non-existent. The European Commission has announced a register on which lobbyists will be asked to disclose their clients and the budgets available to them for lobbying activities .However this register has yet to be launched and it will run on a voluntary basis. Those who want to stay anonymous can continue to do so!"