Society of European Affairs Professionals (SEAP)

Summary of the initiative

Name
Society of European Affairs Professionals (SEAP)
Objective(s)
Increase transparency and accountability of public affairs professionals. Founded in 1997 SEAP is an organisation open to all EU affairs professionals, regardless of nationality, country of residence or the interests they represent (individuals working with a consultancy, trade association or a non-governmental association…). The original 1997 code has been revised among other things to introduce a procedure for non-compliance. Adopted in 2006 this code is similar to the one adopted in 2005 by EPACA (see EPACA fiche). There is some membership overlap between SEAP and EPACA. Acceptance of the code of conduct comes with SEAP membership. (Note: SEAP also states that "any procedure should be limited to dealing with non-compliance by SEAP members who have agreed to uphold the code of conduct", which suggests that not all SEAP members are bound by the code). The EU Transparency Register features a Code of Conduct to which all registrants must sign up. EPACA is registered in the Transparency Register.

Description of the Initiative

    Sector

    Sector

    Commission DG
    Contact Point - Commission
    SG B4

    Self/Co-Regulation Basic Act

    PRIVATE ACT
    Year
    2006
    Title of Act
    SEAP Code of Conduct

    Geographical Coverage

    Global coverage
    Participating Countries
    Austria

    Description

    Problems that lead to the introduction of Self/Co-Regulation and the adoption of the Founding Act
    Unethical professional behaviours, mainly non disclosure of (possible) conflict of interest (i.e. presenting oneself as independent while working for a party with vested interests), dissemination of misleading information, disclosure of confidential information or sell for profit to third parties of documents obtained from EU institutions, misrepresentation of the consultant´s links with EU institutions and (in)direct corruption of public authorities.
    Target Group(s)
    Public affairs consultants and professionals.
    Type of Instrument(s)
    Code of conduct.
    Type of Monitoring
    Conduct an initial survey of compliance capacity of future regulateesConduct regular visits and spot checksInitiate complaints proceduresMaintain database of those bounded by the normsProduce regular reportsReceive complaints and verify if norms were breached or notReflexive dialogue with the - stakeholdersOther
    European Commissionyesyes
    National public authority
    International public authority
    Private regulator (code owner)
    Private independent party with a mandate (e.g. auditors)
    Self-appointed private parties (e.g. NGOs)
    Succinct description of the type of Monitoring
    All SEAP members are bound to the code individually and are required to familiarise themselves with the code. To this end SEAP organises training seminars each year which each member is obliged to take part in as a membership requirement. The role of the SEAP´s code of conduct committee ("CCC") is to keep the code of conduct under regular review and to ensure that the standards laid down by the code are complied with.
    Type of Enforcement
    Faming, shaming and blamingJudicial sanctionsMembership suspension/exclusionPrivate finesOther
    Private Regulatoryesyes
    Private independent party with a mandate (e.g. auditors)
    Court system
    Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) / Online dispute resolution (ODR)
    Succinct description of the type of Enforcement
    "Signatories accept that SEAP can apply a range of sanctions in case of non-compliance, ranging from a verbal warning to expulsion".

    Downloads

    SEAP - Code of Conduct