In accordance with its terms of reference for 2014-2015, the European Committee on Legal Co-operation (CDCJ) carried out a feasibility study in 2014 on a Council of Europe legal instrument concerning the legal regulation of lobbying activities.

On the basis of the conclusions of this study, the Committee agreed, at its plenary meeting in October 2014, to prepare a draft recommendation of the Committee of Ministers to member states in this field. 
Before finalising the preparation of the future legal instrument, the CDCJ organised a wide consultation on the draft recommendation of the Committee of Ministers to member states on the legal regulation of lobbying activities in the context of public decision-making.

This consultation involved key actors among civil society, business and public bodies in the development process of the future legal instrument.   

At its plenary meeting of 16-18 November 2016, the CDCJ finalised the draft recommendation in light of the observations arising from this consultation. It approved the text of the recommendation – and adopted its draft explanatory memorandum – before submitting it to the Committee of Ministers for adoption.  At its 1282nd meeting (22 March 2017), the Committee of Ministers adopted Recommendation CM/Rec(2017)2 on the legal regulation of lobbying activities in the context of public decision making , and took note of its Explanatory Memorandum.

The CDCJ will raise awareness of this recommendation and support its implementation in member states.