“COMECE supports transparency of EU institutions, allowing citizens to better assess” the law-making process. This transparency is “key” to “accountability and exemplarity”, especially in view of the May elections. This is the stance of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) on the internal rules concerning transparency in interaction with “interest representatives” (which entered into force at the European Parliament on 11 February). The new rules oblige Rapporteurs, Shadow Rapporteurs and Committee chairs to make public all scheduled meetings with “interest representatives”. “The adoption of this provision”, COMECE stated,  “makes the law-making process clearer, and therefore intends to reinforce the legitimacy of the Parliament”. However, COMECE questioned the provision that only “interest groups” listed in the Transparency Register may, for example, participate in Intergroup. “This provision should not prevent citizens and their organisations from entering into dialogue with their own elected representatives, especially the informal sector and the most vulnerable members of society”. “The transparency burden”, the statement from COMECE reads, “should be primarily placed on public officials rather than on citizens and civil society’s organisations”.