The French High Authority for Transparency in Public Life (HATVP), in a bid to bring greater clarity to the lobbying system and allow for more precise understanding of lobbying activities, has released new guidelines. These guidelines, according to a report by Latham & Watkins LLP, were published on July 3, 2023, and will be effective from October 1, 2023.
The aim of HATVP with these new regulations is to stimulate further structural modifications in the lobbying landscape. An understanding of these changes and the subsequent steps to be taken are crucial for companies involved in lobbying activities, given their imminent enforcement.
Acting as a pivot in overseeing the transparency in public life, the HATVP’s new guidelines aim to foster an environment of openness and rigorous scrutiny over lobbying practices. With the introduction of these significant updates, companies need to proactively strategize their policy engagements to ensure full compliance.
Whilst exact details are yet to be explored, these new guidelines introduced by the HATVP are evidently a step forward in bringing transparency to lobbying practices. They underscore the growing emphasis on probity and accountability in engaging with public authorities and decision-makers, thereby preventing any unlawful influence over policy-making processes.
Legal professionals, particularly those involved in lobbying activities, are therefore advised to keep abreast with such changes, and seek essential legal advice to ensure that their activities remain within the legal and ethical boundaries drawn by the new guidelines.