Making representation of third countries’ interests more transparent [EU Legislation in Progress]

Written by Clément Evroux (2nd edition).

According to the Flash Eurobarometer 528 survey, released in December 2023, 81 % of Europeans believe that foreign interference in our democratic systems is a serious problem that needs to be addressed. The current geopolitical tensions highlight the following dilemma: while international cooperation calls for the involvement of third countries in the EU debate, this might also carry the risk of foreign interference in EU policymaking, through coercive, covert or deceptive means.

On 12 December 2023, the Commission published the defence of democracy package, which includes a proposal for a directive establishing harmonised requirements on transparency of interest representation carried out on behalf of third countries. A majority of Member States have already adopted legislative or non-legislative measures to regulate interest representation activities in general, with several of them having also established specific registers. This proposal would aim to ensure the transparency of interest representation activities carried out in order to influence policymaking in the EU as a whole, as well as facilitating the exercising of such activities across the single market. A proposed regulation of limited scope, amending in particular the internal market information system, complements the proposed directive. In November 2025, Parliament voted on the report on the proposed directive. With 392 votes in favour, 88 against and 133 abstentions, it endorsed the report and referred it back to the Committee for interinstitutional negotiations

Complete version

• January 2026: ‘Making representation of third countries’ interests more transparent‘ (2nd edition)