Firms exploit new EU scheme to empower citizens

Lord Bell , Tory peer, co-founder of lobbyists Bell Pottinger. Smooth but headmasterly, dismissive of criticism Paxman: 'You wouldn't object [to a client] on moral grounds?' Bell: 'I'm not a priest. I have my own personal m (Rex Features)

Two of Britain's largest lobbying firms have launched attempts to help big businesses hijack a new programme set up to involve ordinary people in EU law-making, i has learned.

A leaked memo shows that Bell Pottinger, the subject of an undercover investigation published in this newspaper in December, offered to help potential clients set up petitions demanding changes to EU law under the new programme, whose rules specifically bar organisations from doing so.

Information posted on the website of fellow lobbyist Fleishman-Hillard shows that it too is offering to help businesses hijack the initiative, which was launched on 1 April.

"They are trying to muscle in. We have done everything we can to try to make it clear and put safeguards in place to discourage that from happening," said an aide to Maros Sefkovic, the European Commission vice-president responsible for setting up the European Citizens' Initiative (ECI).

The revelations will put more pressure on David Cameron to take action against British lobbyists. The Prime Minister has called lobbying "the next big scandal waiting to happen".

Plans to introduce a register of lobbyists, potentially forcing companies to reveal client lists, were announced by the Government in its coalition agreement. A consultation, due to end this week, will look at who will have to sign. But under the current terms set out by the UK Public Affairs Council, firms based in Britain but lobbying in Brussels are not defined as lobbyists.

The ECI is intended to bring the EU's ordinary citizens closer to lawmakers. Petitions which attract one million signatures from at least seven member states will be considered for possible legislation. The rules governing the scheme state: "Citizens' initiatives cannot be run by organisations."

Organisations are not barred from promoting or supporting existing petitions, "provided that they do so with full transparency". But in an email sent by Bell Pottinger's European affairs director, Daniel Hamilton and seen by i, the company said the ECI provided "an exciting opportunity for businesses and campaign groups to directly influence EU policy", and that it offered support to "guide you through the process of devising, launching and managing an initiative".

A posting on Fleishman-Hillard's website claimed: "The ECI is not a tool reserved for NGOs; corporations can use it too." It added that the company could "help you monitor emerging European Citizens' Initiatives, assess their potential impact, and support you in launching your own ECI".

Fleishman-Hillard told i that its aim was to clarify the "practicalities of how a petition could be created according to the EC's rules", adding: "This advice would not extend to organising Citizens' Initiatives as this is not in line with the Commission's rules on the ECI". A spokesman said the firm would alter its website to make this clearer.

Mr Hamilton, of Bell Pottinger, acknowledged the email sent from his account but did not comment further.