BPRA Commits to Transparency in Lobbying
Der Bund Schweizer Public Relations Agenturen (BPRA) bekennt sich in einem Positionspapier zur Transparenz beim Lobbying und befürwortet eine offizielle Akkreditierung für Lobbyisten mit Offenlegung der beim Lobbying vertretenen Mandate.
BPRA is committed to the transparent and professional representation of the interests of companies, associations and NPOs, as detailed in a press release. At their general meeting, the agencies unanimously adopted a position paper that makes a clear commitment to transparency in lobbying: In it, the BPRA advocates official accreditation for lobbyists, a publicly accessible lobbyist register and the disclosure of mandates represented in lobbying.
"Lobbying support from communications agencies is increasingly in demand from companies and associations in Switzerland," says Roman Geiser, President of the BPRA and CEO of Farner Consulting. "At the same time, there is a noticeable trend towards standardization and professionalization of lobbying services. This also means that the communications industry is facing up to the ethical and political issues surrounding its own role and transparency.
"It is also time to recognize professional political representation of interests as a reality in Switzerland," says Andreas Hugi, Managing Partner of Furrer Hugi & Partner and Head of the Public Affairs Chapter of the BPRA. "This in no way diminishes the position and reputation of the political system. On the contrary, if it is transparent and open, it makes an important contribution to political debate and opinion-forming".
The BPRA position on lobby transparency in detail
The BPRA position paper on lobby transparency focuses on transparency measures in the political representation of interests by external consultants at federal level. In detail, the association advocates the following regulations:
1. the BPRA is committed to the transparent and professional representation of the interests of companies, associations and NPOs, whether by these organizations themselves or with the support of agencies.
2 The BPRA is in favor of accreditation for lobbyists being managed by the Parliamentary Services or the Federal Chancellery. This should be made public in a transparency or lobby register.
3 Stakeholders will receive accreditation and thus an access pass to the Wandelhalle if they fulfill the following conditions:
a. Entry in a public register on the basis of self-declaration
b. Signing a code of conduct
c. Disclosure of those public affairs mandates of the employer (agency) on whose behalf access to parliament is required
d. Disclosure of the employer for public affairs employees of companies, associations and NPOs
The position paper can be downloaded at Bpra.ch can be downloaded.
