The City of London Corporation (CoLC) is the municipal governing body of the historic financial district known as the City of London or the “Square Mile.” Established as a municipal corporation, it functions as the local authority for the City and plays a significant role in supporting and promoting London as a leading international financial and business center. The Corporation’s lobbying activities at the EU level focus on shaping financial services policy and regulatory frameworks that impact the City’s competitiveness and operational environment. Its EU lobbying priorities include Capital Markets Union, data protection and cybersecurity, post-trade arrangements, fintech innovation, anti-money laundering (AML), and green and sustainable finance.
The Corporation operates an EU office in Brussels to engage directly with EU institutions and stakeholders. It works closely with financial services practitioners, trade associations, and networks such as the International Regulatory Strategy Group (IRSG) and TheCityUK to influence EU policy and regulatory developments. The City of London Corporation aims to maintain an open, efficient, and competitive business environment, particularly in the wake of Brexit and evolving UK-EU regulatory relations.
The Corporation’s lobbying approach includes producing high-level position papers, organizing events and seminars, engaging in regulatory dialogues, and participating in consultations. It also promotes transparency and credibility in green finance, supporting the UK’s role in financing the global transition to net zero emissions. The City of London Corporation’s lobbying expenditures for the financial year April 2023 to March 2024 were between €400,000 and €499,999, with a team of six lobbyists (equivalent to 4 full-time equivalents), including one accredited to the European Parliament. Since registering in the EU Transparency Register in September 2015, it has held at least 14 high-level meetings with the European Commission.
