Corporate Europe Observatory

Exposing the power of corporate lobbying in the EU

An open door for GMOs? – take action on the EU-US Free Trade Agreement

May 22nd 2013Trade, Agribusiness

At the end of June, the European Union and the US will officially launch negotiations for a new free trade agreement known as the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). The plan is to create the world's largest free trade area, 'protect' investment and harmonize regulation. While appealing to big business, the trade treaty poses a serious threat for citizens on both sides of the Atlantic, as it could weaken labour, social, environmental and consumer protection standards. One of the greatest risks includes US negotiators using the trade deal to push for the EU to open its plates and fields up to GM crops.

Europe cannot drill its way to a low-carbon economy, say climate justice groups

May 21st 2013Climate and Energy

The European Union (EU) and their national governments are set to discuss increased shale gas extraction in Europe which will increase environmental and social harm as well as dangerous climate change. Under the rhetoric of boosting growth, productivity and employment, lays the intention of furthering fossil fuel extraction including shale gas.

Economic governance in Europe - the case of the ECB and the Banking Union

May 16th 2013

Public debate about the series of EU laws which are fundamentally restructuring economic and political governance in the EU.The debate will address the current developments, in particular the development of a Banking Union. Thursday 23rd of May, 9.30-11.30 AM, Brussels.

Court ruling over privileged access for business in EU-India free trade talks

May 15th 2013Trade

The EU's General Court has announced a date for the judgement in Corporate Europe Observatory's legal action, suing the European Commission for withholding information related to the EU’s free trade talks with India. The Commission is accused of discriminating in favour of corporate lobby groups and of violating the EU’s transparency rules. The judgement will be delivered on 7 June 2013.

OLAF's leaked Dalligate report underlines need to end tobacco lobbyist's role as EU ethics adviser

May 8th 2013Lobbycracy

The report shows that Petite had a central role in the events that led to Dalli's forced resignation (under yet to be clarified circumstances, following bribery accusations) in mid-October 2012. Petite assisted tobacco company Swedish Match in submitting the complaint that triggered the OLAF investigation into the Dalli case, using his access to the Commission's Secretary-General Catherine Day, a former colleague at the European Commission.

Older entries

BusinessEurope and the European Commission: in league against labor rights?

When European head of states meet on March 14 and 15 in Brussels for the European spring summit they will asses the 'progress' of reforms in EU member states and how they match with the “Country Specific Recommendations” the Commission gave to the member states. In this supplement we examine how the European Commission and BusinessEurope are working hand in hand to push for neoliberal structural reforms – with a particular focus on labor rights – within the so called European Semester (see below).

BusinessEurope and Economic Governance

Since the outbreak of the crisis, major reforms of the EU's economic governance have been introduced. These reforms are designed to lock in fiscal policy at a national level and enforce austerity at the European level.

Video on remunicipalisation: putting water back into public hands

A motion design documentary shows examples of cities reversing water privatization to regain public control. This video explores water 'remunicipalisation' in Buenos Aires and Paris, looking at the challenges and benefits of reclaiming public water. It calls on citizens worldwide to mobilize around this option. Remunicipalisation Works!

Ombudsman launches investigation into European Commission’s Dalligate secrecy

The EU Ombudsman has launched an investigation into the European Commission's secrecy around 'Dalligate', the tobacco lobbying scandal that led to the forced resignation of health Commissioner John Dalli.

A decisive year for food safety in the EU? Campaign update

Not long after November's demonstration, EFSA took the initiative to organise a meeting in Brussels with the signatory organisations and the European Commission, in order to discuss the demands. This presented an interesting development in our dialogue with the EU institutions, which to date had seen then generally dismissing the very idea that there could be a problem in the EU food safety system. The meeting took place on 30 January.

Recent blogs

An open door for GMOs? – take action on the EU-US Free Trade Agreement

Court ruling over privileged access for business in EU-India free trade talks

Tackling tax evasion: will the Commission listen to anyone but industry?

As the European Commission closes the application process for its new Tax Good Governance Platform in the midst of more scandalous news of offshore tax avoidance and evasion, it needs to learn from past mistakes and not allow the Platform to become a lobby tool of the financial industry.

ALTER-EU en de strijd om data privacy

The battle for data privacy sets digital rights activists against what Commission Vice-President Reding describes as some of the most aggressive industry lobbying she has ever witnessed. Areas of ALTER-EU's work that are important in the fight for data privacy are the demand for a mandatory lobbying register to end lobbying secrecyand shutting the revolving door for employees between EU institutions and private lobbying firms.

ALTER-EU e la battaglia per la privacy

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