SEAP has supported the Commission's work, but recommended caution with regard to the financial disclosure requirements. Work is ongoing within SEAP as regards how to define guidelines for each category of member in an effort to ensure that the information which is registered is comparable. This approach has received tentative support from Commissioner Kallas’ cabinet.
SEAP has also raised concerns about how to define ‘lobbying’. SEAP has proposed to the Commission that the term ‘public affairs’ might be more appropriate as it covers the gamut of what SEAP members do. It would have the added benefit of making financial disclosure easier, as it would cover the range of activities without having to separate out direct lobbying from preparation and monitoring activities. It would also help trade associations with the VAT issue vis-à-vis the Belgian tax authorities. Lobbying also has negative connotations in certain member states. SEAP is therefore urging the Commission to consider this alternative approach. SEAP will submit a paper with these and other suggestions to Mr NYMAND-CHRISTENSEN as a follow-up to the meeting.

SEAP shared the platform with Vice President Kallas at a conference on the Ethics of Lobbying in Lisbon on 20 September.
Catherine Stewart, Vice-President of SEAP, underlined SEAP’s willingness to cooperate on the establishment of a register to encourage professional standards but urged that it should be workable and should not discourage the participation of responsible public affairs professionals.
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Guidelines on the lobbyist register announced

SEAP will offer its members a set of guidelines on how to subscribe to the Commission’s register of lobbyists. The Register, due to be launched in spring 2008 will require lobbyists to sign up to a code of professional conduct and seek disclosure of financial information.

The announcement was made by Lyn Trytsman-Gray, SEAP President during her intervention at the EP Workshop on Lobbying in the EU on 8 October.

“SEAP’s membership is drawn from all sectors of the public affairs profession and includes consultants; trade associations; lawyers; NGOs; and corporate representatives. Subscribing to the Commission’s proposed register will require a substantial amount of preparation from our members. The Commission’s register will only be of value if the information provided by registrants is accurate and comparable. Our aim is to ensure that the information gathered will be valuable and not just a collection of disparate and inconsistent facts. We aim to provide accurate guidelines for each segment of our membership on how best to do this, which we feel will aid the process and benefit all parties.”
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The US Congress has approved a package of reforms to the rules governing lobbying. President Bush signed the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act (HLOGA) into law on 14 September 2007. Among its key provisions:

- increases the frequency of reporting under the Lobbying Disclosure Act from every six months to every quarter;
- adds a new requirement for lobbyists to disclose their direct campaign contributions as well as their lobbying efforts;
- a total ban on meals or gifts to Congressional members and staffers from lobbyists or any organisation that retains lobbyists;
- increasing from 1 to 2 years the ban on Congressional members lobbying their erstwhile colleagues when they leave Congress;
- a ban on accepting privately-funded travel from lobbyists, including overseas travel.

HLOGA's new reporting requirements do not take effect until 1 January 2008 but most of HLOGA's new provisions take immediate effect. Useful links:
http://www.house.gov/ethics/
http://ethics.senate.gov/
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Board:
Jean Louis BOSTEELS was nominated as Vice-President. George ELLIS-RUANO was nominated as a Board Member. Maarten LABBERTON and Fredrick LOFTHAGEN have tendered their resignation to the Board.

In recognition of his contribution to SEAP and the public affairs profession over many years, the Board has nominated Rogier CHORUS an Honorary Member of SEAP. An official announcement will be made at the 10th Anniversary Cocktail reception on 11 October 2007.

Forthcoming Events :

26th November: Code of Conduct Training Seminar
The next Code of Conduct Training event will take place at lunchtime on Monday 26 November 2007 at the European Training Institute, Rue Froissart 57, Brussels 1040.

26th November: Comitology seminar for SEAP members
In partnership with the European Training Institute, 26 November 14.00 - 18.00. Contact Secretariat for more information.

5th November - Board Meeting
Among the many items for discussion at this meeting will be a set of proposals from the Chair of the membership committee, Susanna DI FELICIANTONIO. These proposals relate to fee structure; simplification of the application form; and how to facilitate group applications for SEAP membership.