Joksimovic: Serbia should regulate lobbying activities

BELGRADE - Lobbying is a legitimate activity which Serbia needs to regulate through laws or some form of a register, Serbian Minister without portfolio in charge of European integration Jadranka Joksimovic stated.

Lobbying is not a replacement for institutional government action but it can be useful for Serbia on its European integration path, Joksimovic stated late on Wednesday during a debate organised by the Serbian Lobbyists Associations.

She noted that Brussels, as an administrative centre of the EU, has a register comprising over 20,000 lobbyists and added that there is prejudice in Serbia concerning lobbying which is brought in connection with corruption and illegal action.

When the goals are defined and their realisation is monitored, lobbying is a transparent process that reduces potential corruption and can only facilitate realisation of goals, the minister said.

This is why the public perception of the activity needs to change, Joksimovic concluded after she received the plaque for the development of theory and practice of transparent lobbying.

Photo Tanjug Video