- The collaboration between the University of Salamanca’s Center for Research on Global Governance (CIGG), the Association of Institutional Relations Professionals (APRI), and the Public Affairs Community of Europe (PACE) will involve the development of a study and the publication of a book on models for regulating lobbying in Europe.
- The University of Salamanca’s collaboration with PACE and APRI will be the largest research project by a Spanish university on European regulation of Public Affairs.
The University of Salamanca (USAL), the Association of Institutional Relations Professionals (APRI), and PACE – Public Affairs Community of Europe have signed a collaboration agreement to develop a comparative study on lobbying regulation in Europe. This study will culminate in the publication of an academic and accessible book on the subject, as well as a series of summary sheets in English with the main data from each national regulation.
The agreement was signed at APRI’s headquarters in Madrid by Professor Juan José Rastrollo, Director of the Center for Research on Global Governance at the University of Salamanca; Irene Matías, Vice President of APRI; and Laura Florea, President of PACE.
The initiative aims to analyze different European models for regulating interest representation, identify best practices, and contribute to the public debate on the need for greater transparency, legal certainty, and integrity in the dialogue between public authorities and organized civil society.
The study will address issues such as transparency registers, codes of conduct, reporting obligations, sanctioning systems, and the traceability of regulatory footprints.
Juan José Rastrollo, director of the Center for Research on Global Governance at the University of Salamanca, stated that “collaboration between the university, professional associations, and European networks allows us to address this phenomenon with academic rigor and a commitment to public impact.” In his view, “the study will help to structure the debate, identify the main regulatory challenges, and offer useful proposals for public officials, researchers, and professionals.”
Irene Matías, Vice President of APRI, having a comparative and updated study on lobbying regulation models in Europe is fundamental to moving towards a more rigorous debate, one less based on perceptions: “It will allow us to identify best practices, learn from the experience of other countries, and put forward practical and realistic proposals for lobbying regulation. It will also contribute to generating greater consensus and moving towards a more harmonized model for Europe.” In this regard, she emphasized that Spain needs to move towards a clear, balanced framework, comparable to that of its European neighbours, which provides legal certainty for both institutions and professionals.
Laura Florea, President of PACE, highlighted that “lobbying regulation is one of the major European debates regarding public integrity and democratic quality.” “At PACE, we believe that sharing experiences between countries, comparing models, and learning from best practices is fundamental to strengthening the public affairs profession in Europe,” she stated. With this collaboration, the University of Salamanca, APRI, and PACE reinforce their commitment to European democracy, knowledge generation, the improvement of professional standards, and the strengthening of a culture of transparency in the relationship between public institutions and various social and economic actors.
About CIGG
The University of Salamanca’s Center for Global Governance Research (CIGG) conducts research, training, and knowledge transfer on the main challenges of contemporary governance, with a special focus on institutions, regulation, and public policy.
About APRI
The Association of Institutional Relations Professionals (APRI) is the organization that represents public affairs and institutional relations professionals in Spain. Since its founding, APRI has worked for the recognition, professionalization, and transparent regulation of advocacy work.
About PACE
PACE – Public Affairs Community of Europe is the European platform that brings together national associations of public affairs professionals with the aim of promoting common standards, sharing best practices, and strengthening the profession at the European level.
For more information, contact the PACE Secretariat (secretarygeneral@paceurope.eu)
