On the basis of the conclusions of the study on the feasibility of a Council of Europe legal instrument on the legal regulation of lobbying activities carried out in the course of 2014 by an expert in the field at the request of the European Committee on Legal Co-operation (CDCJ), and following an Ad Hoc meeting in view of preparing such an instrument held on 8-10 December 2014, the Committee entrusted a Drafting Group of its members (CDCJ-GT-LOB) to prepare a draft recommendation on this issue.

The Group held five meetings between 2015 and 2016 (4-6 May 2015, 23-25 September 2015, 18-20 January 2016, 14-17 June 2016 and 21-23 September 2016) to complete the draft recommendation on the legal regulation of lobbying activities in the context of public decision making which was subject to a wide consultation of key actors. A hearing of representatives from regulatory bodies, business, lobbyists and civil society was organised on 14 June 2016. The draft instrument which took account of the observations arising from the consultation was subsequently approved by CDCJ (91st meeting, 16-18 November 2016) before being submitted to the Committee of Ministers for adoption. The recommendation (CM/Rec(2017)2) was adopted on 22 March 2017.