Alter-EU has published a rather useful report about the “expert groups” who advise the European Commission on policy and law.

It reveals a growing problem: These groups are increasing in number (there are now about 1200), but their membership is often kept a secret and their discussions are equally confidential.

The result is that in many cases EU policy is strongly influenced by committees dominated by interest groups.

The groups are committees composed of national representatives, academics, trade associations and business people as well as Commission officials and MEPs.

Alter-EU chose a sample of groups to investigate, and requested information from the Commission. In 34% of cases, the Commission simply didn’t reply to the request. In others, they took up to 80 days to provide details. In half of the cases where the Commission did provide information, it was only partial.

Many groups are controlled by producers - in other words, the expertise they provide is likely to recommend law and policy favouring industry.

The report is well worth a read if you want to begin to understand the opaque way in which the EU goes about creating its laws. It’s available here.

The EU Commissioner for Justice, Franco Frattini, is to take some time off to campaign in the Italian elections.

And yet EU law says Commissioners aren’t to engage in any other occupation whether paid or unpaid.

“European Commission vice-president Franco Frattini, one of the most high-profile of the commission’s 27-member team, has decided to return to the realm of national politics and stand in Italy’s general election in order to boost chances of centre-right leader Silvio Berlusconi.

Mr Frattini, in charge of justice and home affairs, will take four weeks of unpaid leave from 14 March to 15 April.”

But Article 213 of the Treaty Establishing the European Union says:

The Members of the Commission may not, during their term of office, engage in any other occupation, whether gainful or not

Hmm…