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.

Financial lobby rules

November 19, 2010 - 14:07

Pathetic finale to a historical battle on financial regulation

 

50,000 in call to close revolving door

November 9, 2010 - 11:49

ALTER-EU's Paul De Clerck hands over petition to Commissioner Šefčovič

More than 50,000 people signed an online Avaaz petition, delivered to the EU Commission today, urging it to close the revolving doors for ex-Commissioners who move on to lucrative private sector lobby jobs after they step down [1].

Last month MEPs voted to freeze part of the next year’s EU budget for EU Commissioners unless changes were made to the code of conduct.

Worst EU Lobbying Award - Vote Now!

October 13, 2010 - 13:56

Brussels, 13 October – Business attempts to undermine effective European action on climate change and finance regulation are exposed today with the launch of the Worst EU Lobbying Awards 2010 [1]. Corporate influence over governments is blocking desperately needed measures to stop the worsening of the financial and climate crises.

From today, members of the public can vote online at www.worstlobby.eu for the most deserving ‘winner’ in this year’s two categories – climate and finance. Online voting will run until 25 November 2010.

Goldman Sachs Attacks

October 5, 2010 - 16:54
No proposed regulation is so weak that it cannot be weakened further. And Goldman Sachs knows the strongest argument by heart: what if other countries chose something even less ambitious?

Revolving door scandal - ALTER-EU call

September 27, 2010 - 11:42

Brussels, 27 September 2010 – The ALTER-EU civil society coalition today called for the introduction of three-year cooling-off period for former Commissioners, and urged the EU Commission to block the new jobs for former Commissioners Charlie McCreevy and Günter Verheugen because of conflicts of interest.

Industry applauds food labelling vote

June 29, 2010 - 12:05
Consumer organisations reacted with great disappointment to MEPs' rejection of the traffic light labelling scheme in the 17 June vote. CIAA, the food and drinks industry lobby, seemed pleased with the vote, but criticised CEO's report on food labelling and even denied being a lobbying organisation in a conversation with CEO. See our update on: http://blog.brusselssunshine.eu/2010/06/high-time-for-ciaa-to-come-clean...

No transparency - two years on

June 28, 2010 - 11:53
Brussels, 22 June - Two years after its introduction the European Commission's lobby register has failed to bring lobbying into the open,the Alliance for Lobbying Transparency and Ethics Regulation in the EU (ALTER-EU) said today. The group used the anniversary of the register to call on the Commission to take urgent steps towards a mandatory, joint register for the European Commission and European Parliament with improved transparency standards.

Action group disturbs Green-washing Week

June 2, 2010 - 20:17
On the second day of the EU's Green Week, an action group took the stage during a session of the 2-day policy summit titled ‘Pricing the earth: How business can protect and profit from biodiversity’. The 'summit' was organised by Friends of Europe, a corporate-sponsored think tank. The activists spread a red banner reading ‘Green Week is as green as this banner’ and one listing the companies behind Friends of Europe, including BP, Dow, Areva and Coca Cola.

The People vs. Goldman Sachs

June 1, 2010 - 09:33
The US investment bank Goldman Sachs is earning a reputation as public enemy no. 1 in the financial world. At the same time the firm is one of the Commission’s favourites when it comes to asking for advice on regulating financial markets . It is high time for the Commission to close the door on Goldman Sachs, this article concludes.

Lobbying for governments in Brussels

May 27, 2010 - 12:15
Lobbying for governments in Brussels: a lucrative business still under the radar
This report from Corporate Europe Observatory presents 15 recent examples of governments using lobby consultancies to influence the EU institutions, including Belarus, Botswana, Ethiopia, Jersey, Kazakhstan and Sri Lanka. They all have hired “public affairs” firms in Brussels to try and boost their diplomacy work. Their motives differ, but include polishing their image, gaining political support, securing EU funding or preferential trade treatment, and blocking new EU regulations.

Pages

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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