The European Commission announced that 5,000 organisations had signed up, by 30 March, to the joint transparency register it set up with the European Parliament in June 2011. The figure includes registrants in the EU executive’s older register – 4,000 in total, who are gradually being transferred to the new one. Registration to the joint transparency register (formerly known as lobbyist register) is not mandatory but is necessary to obtain an access card to the EP’s premises. Organisations whose activities aim at influencing the policy and decision making processes of the EU are the ones first and foremost concerned. This includes business lobbyists, think tanks and NGOs, and also churches and lawyers. However, a distinction is made between corporate and non-corporate interests. Local, regional and municipal authorities fall outside the scope of the register. By registering, organisations or individuals agree to make public not only basic information about themselves but also details on their activities in the EU institutions, the number of people involved as well as financial figures on activities that fall within the scope of the register. Registrants also agree to abide by a code of conduct.