Corporate Europe Observatory

Exposing the power of corporate lobbying in the EU

Lobbycracy

Brussels is at the centre of EU decision-making and as such attracts thousands of lobbyists, promoting the interests of big business. Easily outnumbering and outspending public interest groups, corporate lobbyists are also given privileged access by the European institutions. The emerging lobbycracy results in flawed policies that put commercial interests above those of people and the environment and undermines the very basis of democracy.

European Commission withheld information on its contacts with Swedish Match

January 21, 2013 - 10:08
After repeated freedom of information requests, the European Commission has released two hitherto unknown emails while maintaining its refusal to grant access to other key documents related to the resignation of Mr Dalli. The now released emails between EC Secretary General Catherine Day and Swedish Match had not been included in the Commission’s answers to a long list of MEP questions on Mr Dalli’s resignation to the Commission and OLAF.

Health and transparency NGOs demand Commission implements UN tobacco lobbying rules

January 17, 2013 - 11:11

Transparency, public health and tobacco control NGOs have today written to EU Commission President Barroso to complain about Commission officials having undisclosed meetings with tobacco lobbyists, in violation of UN rules. The undisclosed meetings are particularly controversial in the context of the Dalligate tobacco lobbying scandal, which led to the resignation of Commissioner Dalli under unclear and contested circumstances.

CEO complains about EU ethics adviser with tobacco industry links

January 14, 2013 - 11:29

Corporate Europe Observatory, alongside Lobby Control and Corporate Accountability International, have today submitted a formal complaint to European Commission President Barroso over the controversial reappointment of Michel Petite to the Commission’s ad hoc ethical committee.

The Commission’s shabby implementation of UN rules for tobacco lobbying

December 14, 2012 - 09:00
Almost two months after Commissioner John Dalli resigned, it is still not clear what exactly happened in this tobacco lobby scandal. Commission officials have told Brussels journalists that Dalli had to resign because he held undisclosed meetings with tobacco lobbyists. But if Health Commissioner John Dalli had to resign because of undisclosed meetings with tobacco lobbyists, shouldn’t the same logic apply to high-level Commission officials in Barroso’s cabinet, at the Secretariat-General and other DGs?

EFSA used to defend industry in lobbying battle on chemicals?

December 12, 2012 - 18:56
A report by freelance Stéphane Horel (covered today by Le Monde) reveals that more than half the members of the EFSA working group on endocrine disruptors (a class of toxic chemicals that interfere with the hormone system) have conflicts of interest, many of them with industry think-tank, ILSI.

Revealed: EU's revolving door facilitates tobacco lobby meetings

December 10, 2012 - 16:21
While leaving most issues unclear, the Commission’s response to Parliamentary questions about Dalligate has revealed some disturbing new facts. Behind closed doors meetings with tobacco lobbyists are facilitated by the revolving door – when former public officials become lobbyists, often in the same policy areas.

No sign of smoke clearing: Commission and OLAF's response to Parliament’s 154 Dalligate questions

December 10, 2012 - 15:58
Last week the Commission and OLAF responded to 154 questions on Dalligate tabled by MEPs. Instead of clarifying the basic facts about the Dalli lobby scandal, the Commission and OLAF left most key questions unanswered. The smoke is far from being cleared, and more pressure for real answers, and for stronger lobby rules, is urgently needed.

Clear the smoke in Brussels - demand lobbying transparency

December 6, 2012 - 10:49
Corporate Europe Observatory and other members of the ALTER-EU alliance are urging European citizens to demand the full facts about what happened in the lobbying scandal that led to the resignation of Commissioner Dalli. Why was the Commissioner forced to resign and what was the role of the tobacco lobby? The Commission must end its secrecy and release the full facts about Dalligate

Self-congratulation will not bring about lobby transparency

November 28, 2012 - 12:06
The European Commission has published an annual report assessing the first year of the new EU lobby transparency register. Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič claims the report shows that “all our short-term objectives [have been] met”. CEO found his assessment surprising, given the clear flaws in the register highlighted by ALTER-EU. Perhaps the Commissioner needs to set slightly more ambitious targets if transparency in Brussels is to be improved.

EU can learn lobbygate lessons from rules elsewhere

November 22, 2012 - 11:06
“The Dalli case shows the system works,” an EU official told a public debate in Brussels last week, following a question on whether new ethics and transparency reforms will follow the Dalli-gate lobby scandal. The Commission is clearly in denial. The ex-Commissioner's resignation may still be shrouded in mystery, but the need for greater transparency and tighter rules to prevent undue influence could not be more clear. A quick look at lobby transparency systems in Canada and elsewhere can be instructive on this. CEO argues that a more robust, mandatory and better implemented system of lobby transparency in the EU would have prevented an unregistered lobbyist embroiling a high-level policy maker in a cash for access scandal.

Σελίδες

Rio+20

More on Rio+20

Climate and Energy

More on Climate and Energy, More on Trade

EU in crisis

More on The financial lobby, More on EU in crisis

The financial lobby

More on The financial lobby, More on EU in crisis

Global Europe

More on Trade

Lobbycracy

More on Lobbycracy

Revolving Doors

More on Revolving Doors

Agribusiness

More on Lobbycracy, More on Agribusiness

EFSA

More on Lobbycracy, More on Agribusiness, More on EFSA


The Brussels Business: Who runs the EU?

Corporate Europe Observatory

Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) is a research and campaign group working to expose and challenge the privileged access and influence enjoyed by corporations and their lobby groups in EU policy making.

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