None. There is no regulation requiring former MEPs to seek authorisation for their subsequent professional activities.
Titley is a former leader of the Labour Party group in the European Parliament and four-term MEP. He was a member of a number of committees: transport, industry and energy; internal market; economic and monetary affairs; legal affairs; and foreign affairs. He was also the socialist group’s vice-president responsible for the 2004 enlargement of the EU.
When he joined lobbyists Hume Brophy in January 2010 as a senior advisor, managing partner John Hume said:
“We are delighted to have Gary join our team. He brings great legislative experience to Hume Brophy and key insight for our clients … Gary is a perfect fit for our expanding client base. Gary will work primarily on EU-related issues, but will also be bringing his expertise to our UK public affairs practice.”
CEO is concerned about the risk of conflicts of interest when MEPs go to work for lobby consultancies, especially if they use their insider knowledge and network of contacts gained whilst in public office, to then benefit their corporate clients.
CEO contacted Gary Titley in advance of publishing this profile but he did not reply to our questions.
The rules in the European Parliament
The current revolving door rules for MEPs are so weak as to be virtually non-existent.
The code of conduct for MEPs (approved in 2011) states that
“Former Members of the European Parliament who engage in professional lobbying or representational activities directly linked to the European Union decision-making process may not, throughout the period in which they engage in those activities, benefit from the facilities granted to former Members under the rules laid down by the Bureau to that effect”.
However, there is no process to monitor or enforce this part of the code and ensure that former MEPs do not use their lifelong access pass for lobbying purposes.
Until December 2013, Gary Titley was registered on the EU Transparency Register, along with a number of other Hume Brophy staff, as a “person accredited for access to European Parliament premises” meaning that he had applied for and received a lobbyists' access pass, separate to his former-MEP pass.
When MEPs leave the European parliament they are entitled to a transitional allowance equivalent to one month's salary for every year they have been an MEP, with a minimum pay-out of six months' salary and a maximum of 24 months.
“There are currently no robust rules governing the revolving door for former MEPs and CEO regrets this. As a result, too many MEPs like Gary Titley enter corporate lobby consultancy jobs and there is a risk of conflicts of interest arising.”