As a Knowledge Partner of the virtual 2021 OECD Global Anti-Corruption & Integrity Forum, EPACA hosted a panel discussion on the topic of lobbying and transparency in times of COVID-19 on 25 March 2021. Panelists included Daniel Freund (MEP for the Greens), Maria Rosa Rotondo (President of Public Affairs Community of Europe, PACE), and Bert Fraussen (Assistant Professor at the University of Leiden), and journalist James Kanter acted as moderator of the discussion.
The panelists engaged in a lively debate on the key trends in lobbying that have been accelerated by the COVID-19, the future of lobbying in an increasingly digitalized world, and the work that needs to continue at policy level to ensure that transparent lobbying can continue to take place. The discussion touched upon transparency at national and EU level, effective implementation of transparency registers, the importance of having multiple voices at the table to ensure a democratic process, how digital tools impact lobbying and how they can be harnessed to the benefit of the practice, among many other topics.