Corporate Europe Observatory

Particularly significant is the proposal on structural reforms, first put forward last year by President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy. Fundamentally the Commission would require eurozone member states to sign bilateral contracts – a so-called “Convergence and Competitiveness Instrument” – on a number of structural reforms. In exchange for compliance the member state would be rewarded with financial incentives.

The Dalligate scandal entered a new stage last week when Swedish Match admitted that they knew a key lobby meeting with Mr. Dalli, where the alleged 60 million euro bribe was offered, had not in fact taken place, and claimed that it was EU anti-fraud agency OLAF that had instructed them to stick to the erroneous story. Corporate Europe Observatory has today taken several new steps to increase the pressure on Barroso and OLAF to clear the smoke around Dalligate, including complaints against Swedish Match and OLAF, and freedom of information requests about Swedish Match lobbyists who went through the revolving door from the EU institutions.

After months of preparation, the days of action organised by the coalition For a European Spring erupted into life last week. However, here in Brussels the police tried to stop it: first banning a peaceful demonstration and then arbitrarily arresting people after a peaceful occupation of the European Commission’s ‘Austerity HQ’. But despite their efforts, the seeds have now been sown, and the pan-European movement against undemocratic and destructive austerity policies is growing.

The concessions directive, which has the stated object of opening markets and eliminating “discrepancies among national regimes”, would end the exemption that has so far existed for drinking water supply and for the first time bring it under the rules of the EU’s single market. Previous attempts to bring water under single market rules failed due to resistance from civil society and MEPs opposed to water becoming a commodity, but this time the European Parliament has been less vigilant.

Ombudsman Investigates Big Tobacco Lobbyist on EU Ethics Panel. Press Release from LobbyControl, Corporate Accountability International and Corporate Europe Observatory. The European Ombudsman is now investigating the European Commission's reappointment of a high-profile revolving door case, Michel Petite, the former head of the Commission's Legal Service-turned-lawyer for Big Tobacco, to the ad hoc ethical committee, which advises on Commissioners going through the revolving door. This follows a complaint made by Lobby Control, Corporate Accountability International and Corporate Europe Observatory in February. The Ombudsman has asked Commission President Barroso to respond to allegations that Michel Petite's reappointment breaks rules about independence and the requirement for an impeccable professional record.