Mr. Julio Bacio Terracino:

If I can add something that could be covered, unfortunately, this goes back to what Mr. Bertók said earlier about the concerns in certain countries and what they did to balance the different interests to which the Deputy made reference earlier. Everybody wants to have, at least in the beginning, comprehensive coverage to ensure nothing escapes from the regulation but because of some of the issues we are discussing here at times, that is impossible. One way of avoiding that, and this is the case in the United States, for example, and also at the state level, is to have a very broad definition which sends a signal that everybody is considered a lobbyist. It sends out a first signal in terms of who is a lobbyist, and no one is left out of this definition. However, for the purpose of disclosure and registration, because of administrative burdens or any other issue, they have thresholds to which Mr. Bertók made reference earlier. In the case of the United States if lobbying is more than 20% of a person's or an organisation's activities that person must register.

If lobbying activities are smaller than 20% of the activities of a person or organisation, then this person or organisation needs to register. However, that does not mean that the person, in principle, is not a lobbyist, but that it accounts for less than 20% of his or her activities. In the case of California, for example, at the state level, it is related to the amount spent and if it is more than $2,000 that is spent. This provides one of the solutions in order to give the signal that one has a comprehensive view of the issue but also that one has a practical or feasible approach.

Going back to the grassroots or to these other ways that might escape from the regulation, some countries, due to the concerns, regulate them or they are not accepted. For example, in Canada, charities, churches and all these type of organisations need to comply and register.