BP – Extracting Influence at the Heart of the EU

28.01.2009

Oil industry lobbying at the heart of the EU has played a key role in influencing Europe's energy policy, according to a new report from Corporate Europe Observatory and PLATFORM. The report, BP - Extracting Influence at the Heart of the EU, reveals the oil giant's close relationship with decision makers and highlights how the company has convinced Commissioners and others that BP's interests are in the EU's interest - allowing it to promote profit-driven approaches to climate change through emissions trading as well as encouraging risky dependence on Russian gas. BP's close relationship with the EU has led to a "shared agenda" and belief that what is in BP's interest, is also in the interest of the EU. in influencing Europe's energy policy, according to a new report from Corporate Europe Observatory and PLATFORM. The report, BP - Extracting Influence at the Heart of the EU, reveals the oil giant's close relationship with decision makers and highlights how the company has convinced Commissioners and others that BP's interests are in the EU's interest - allowing it to promote profit-driven approaches to climate change through emissions trading as well as encouraging risky dependence on Russian gas. BP's close relationship with the EU has led to a "shared agenda" and belief that what is in BP's interest, is also in the interest of the EU.

BP is one of the world’s leading international oil and gas companies (IOCs) and Europe’s second largest corporation. This report examines BP’s interface with Brussels, analysing what the company might achieve through European Union (EU) support and how the company stands to benefit from EU policies. It looks at the resources the company devotes to lobbying in Brussels and the methods it uses.  Two case studies explore in more detail the role BP has played in shaping the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (Putting the Fox in Charge of the Henhouse) and how BP has benefited from the political weight of the EU in its dealings in Russia (BP and Russian Bear). It concludes that BP commands undue influence at the European level and that European energy security and environmental protection have been compromised through a false perception among decision-makers that what is good for BP is also good for the EU.

 

Downloads
Extracting_influence_intro.pdf
extracting_influence_ets.pdf.pdf
extracting_influence_russia.pdf.pdf
extracting_influence_conclusion.pdf.pdf

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