Do I need to register as a lobbyist in Greece if I meet MPs for my client?

It is not easy to give a straightforward answer just with a somehow general queastion, however, rougly speaking,the activities you mention—arranging meetings with Members of Parliament (MPs) and ministry officials to discuss policy changes on behalf of a paying client—could be qualified as lobbying under Greek law, specifically Law 4829/2021 on "Strengthening Transparency and Accountability of State Institutional Bodies." Quite broadly, this law defines lobbying (or "influence activities") as actions taken by "interest representatives" (individuals or entities) to influence decisions of legislative and executive bodies, including Parliament, the Government, and ministries. To comply, you should register as an interest representative in the Transparency Register (in greek "Μητρώο Διαφάνεις"). Feel free to contact us for any further information.

An interest representative is a natural or legal person who carries out paid influence activities by communicating with institutional bodies on behalf and for the benefit of a client. This definition excludes persons linked to the client by an employment relationship or a salaried mandate.

Influence activity refers to any type of direct communication between an interest representative and institutional bodies, aimed at influencing the decision-making process—particularly regarding the content of a law, presidential decree, ministerial decision, other regulatory administrative acts, or circulars. Such activity is conducted for remuneration within the framework of representing a client’s interests, regardless of whether the process is currently ongoing or follows the communication, and irrespective of the communication’s outcome.

You may log in using your Taxisnet credentials, and no submission or attachment of supporting documents is required. Registration in the Transparency Register is mandatory for all individuals wishing to exercise influence activities, provided they:
- Are over 18 years of age.
- Have not been irrevocably convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor resulting in a custodial sentence of more than 18 months.
- Are not currently active institutional bodies or spouses/cohabitants of an institutional body.
- Have not served as institutional bodies within the last 18 months.

Furthermore, please remember that an annual electronic declaration must be submitted via the Transparency Register platform between January 1st and January 31st, regarding the influence activities carried out during the previous year.