Press Releases
June 10, 2013 - 12:00
A broad range of public interest groups have today sent an official complaint to European Commissioner Algirdas Šemeta about the newly-established Tax Platform, which they claim is “fundamentally compromised”. In a stunt staged this morning, as members of the platform arrived, they denounced the Commission for “putting foxes in charge of the hen house” when tackling tax dodging.
June 7, 2013 - 12:28
In a ruling delivered today following a lawsuit by lobby watchdog Corporate Europe Observatory, the EU’s General Court in Luxembourg concludes that the European Commission did not violate EU rules when withholding information about the EU-India free trade talks from the public, even though it had already shared the information with corporate lobby groups. Corporate Europe Observatory warns that this decision risks deepening the secrecy around EU trade negotiations and legitimises the Commission’s practice of granting corporate lobby groups privileged access to its policy-making, at the expense of the wider public interest.
June 3, 2013 - 10:04
The proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) between the EU and the US will open the floodgate to multi-million Euro lawsuits from corporations challenging democratic policies to protect the environment and public health, argues a new briefing by Corporate Europe Observatory and the Transnational Institute.
May 29, 2013 - 13:06
In a May 23d ruling, the EU Ombudsman stated that EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) failed to take adequate measures to prevent conflict of interests arising from a major 'revolving doors' case in 2008.
May 21, 2013 - 11:44
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.
May 6, 2013 - 10:33
Corporate Europe Observatory, the Council of Canadians and the Transnational Institute
Amsterdam/Brussels/Ottawa, May 6th.- The proposed Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between the European Union (EU) and Canada would grant energy companies far-reaching rights to challenge bans and regulations of environmentally damaging shale gas development (fracking), a new briefing by Corporate Europe Observatory, The Council of Canadians and the Transnational Institute shows.
April 17, 2013 - 12:10
The European Commission's new proposal for company reporting on non-financial issues has been severely weakened by industry lobbying, a new report by Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) shows. While the Commission originally considered requiring companies to publish data on their social and environmental impact, the proposal presented yesterday takes a voluntary approach with no means of enforcement. The proposal would only apply to a mere 0.3% of all European firms - and even those covered have ample opportunity to escape scrutiny.
April 15, 2013 - 09:56
The European Parliament votes tomorrow on the European Commission's proposal to backload 900 million emissions permits within the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS). This vote assumes the EU ETS can be reformed, but ahead of the vote, a new report shows that the problems of the EU ETS are systemic and unresolvable. Keeping this failed system in place would further delay real action for reducing emissions in Europe.
April 11, 2013 - 10:43
Biotech and pesticides giants Syngenta and Bayer are waging an all-out lobbying war against an upcoming vote on a limited ban on three of their pesticides. Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) had access to private letters and emails sent by these two companies and allied lobby groups to the EC as well as EFSA, which displayed their strong-arm tactics to try to avoid the ban.
March 19, 2013 - 10:51
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.
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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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