Who we are

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.

Our team

Kat Ainger

Editor (freelance)

Kat.ainger@corporateeurope.org

Belén Balanyá

Belén Balanyá

Researcher and campaigner

Work areas: Climate, Energy, Environment
Belen.balanya@corporateeurope.org

Vicky Cann

Vicky Cann

Researcher and campaigner

Work areas: Lobbying the EU, Chemicals policy, Environmental justice
Vicky.cann@corporateeurope.org
0044 7960 988096

Kenneth Haar

Kenneth Haar

Researcher and campaigner

Work areas: Finance, economic and social justice, democracy
kenneth.haar@corporateeurope.org
0045 2360 0631

Olivier Hoedeman

Olivier Hoedeman

Research and campaign coordinator

Work areas: Lobbying the EU
Olivier.hoedeman@corporateeurope.org
0032 4 74486545

Nina Holland

Nina Holland

Researcher and campaigner

Work areas: Agribusiness, GMOs, Lobbying the EU, EFSA
Nina.holland@corporateeurope.org

Kees Kimman

Kees Kimman

Finance manager

kees.kimman@corporateeurope.org
0031 63830 4731

Karin Lotz

Karin Lotz

Office & HR Manager

Karin.lotz@corporateeurope.org

Pascoe Sabido

Pascoe Sabido

Researcher and campaigner

Work areas: Lobbying the EU, Expert groups, Climate, Energy, Environment
Pascoe.sabido@corporateeurope.org

Hans van Scharen

Hans van Scharen

*Out of office until June 2024*
Researcher and campaigner

Work areas: Agribusiness & Food, Pesticides, GMOs, Lobbying the EU
Hans@corporateeurope.org
0032 484 729776

Joana Louçã

Joana Louçã

Communications Officer

Joana@corporateeurope.org

Bram Vranken

Bram Vranken

Researcher and campaigner

Work areas: Big Tech, economic and social justice
Bram@corporateeurope.org

Portrait photo of João Camargo, wearing a red t-shirt

João Camargo

Researcher and campaigner

Work areas: Agribusiness
Joao@corporateeurope.org

Photo of Marcella Via

Marcella Via

Press Officer

Marcella@corporateeurope.org
+39 348 420 1435

Our board

CEO's board consists of three members:

Analía Penchaszadeh (The Netherlands/Argentina)

Brid Brennan (The Netherlands/Ireland)

Saskia Ozinga (Belgium)

Our advisory council includes the board members as well as:

Pratap Chatterjee (India/US)

Jakub Patočka (Czech Republic)

Thomas Wallgren (Finland)

Emma Avilés (Spain)

Lisa Mittendrein (Austria)

Our statutes

The statutes for Corporate Europe Observatory can be found here.

Our annual report

Take a look at our research and campaigning highlights from last year, and discover some of the great coverage of our work in our 2022 annual report. You can also take a look at our 2021 annual report. and our 2020 annual report.

In 2022, CEO celebrated its 25th anniversary. Find out more here.

Who funds us?

Corporate Europe Observatory receives donations from individual supporters as well as grants from a number of trusts and grant-making foundations. Our funding policy rejects funding from EU institutions and corporations in order to maintain the independence of our research. You can access our CEO accounts 2008-2022 here. Currently the following trusts and foundations are supporting us financially. This table will be updated accordingly.

Name of foundation Mission statement CEO activities funded Current Financial year 2023

Isvara Foundation

The Isvara Foundation was established in 2007 and is fully funded by a donation from founder Ayman Jallad. It is "a progressive trust that awards grants to civil society organisations working to halt the unsustainable and socially destructive neo-liberal policies that characterize the currently dominant process of corporate-led globalisation."

Investigating corporate influence & strengthening EU lobbying regulation

€ 100,000

Adessium Foundation

“Adessium Foundation was established in 2005 by the Van Vliet family, which has a background in asset management.” “The Foundation works to achieve a balanced society characterized by integrity, a balance between people and nature, and social harmony.“

Investigating corporate influence & strengthening EU lobbying regulation

€ 150,000

This is part of a 3-year grant, with a total of €420,000 for 2023-26

Open Society Initiative for Europe

The Open Society Foundations were set up in 1979 by George Soros. “The Open Society Initiative for Europe aims to contribute to more vibrant and legitimate democracies in the European Union by supporting the activists and civil society organizations confronting Europe’s many challenges.”

Investigating corporate influence & strengthening EU lobbying regulation

€129,570

Global Greengrants Fund

Global Greengrants Fund believes solutions to environmental harm and social injustice come from people whose lives are most impacted. Every day, our global network of people on the frontlines and donors comes together to support communities to protect their ways of life and our planet.

Investigating corporate influence (EU food and agriculture policies)
& strengthening EU lobbying regulation

€ 29,886

OAK Foundation

"Oak Foundation commits its resources to address issues of global, social, and environmental concern, particularly those that have a major impact on the lives of the disadvantaged. Through our grant-making, we support others to make the world a safer, fairer, and more sustainable place to live"

Environmental Justice Campaign

€ 48,000

Fondation pour le progrès de l'Homme

“The Charles Léopold Mayer Foundation for the Progress of Humankind (fph) is a foundation under Swiss law. Our aim is to contribute to the emergence of a global community. Our work focuses on governance, ethics and sustainable living modes.”

Investigating corporate influence & strengthening EU lobbying regulation

€ 40,000

European Climate Foundation

The European Climate Foundation is dedicated to responding to the global climate crisis by creating a net-zero greenhouse gas emissions society.

Investigating corporate influence (EU climate and energy policies), & strengthening EU lobbying regulation

€ 21,756

Tides

"Tides is a philanthropic partner and nonprofit accelerator dedicated to building a world of shared prosperity and social justice."

Investigating corporate influence (EU food and agriculture and chemicals policy), & strengthening EU lobbying regulation

€30,000

Energy Transition Fund

Energy Transition Fund (ETF) is a funder collaborative that supports international strategies to create the conditions for a just and equitable energy transition, in line with the Paris climate limits. ETF supports civil society organizations working at the regional and global level to secure a just and equitable transition.

EU climate and energy policies

€93,333

Olin gGmbH

(not to be confused with the now
defunct John M Olin Foundation)

Olin gGmbH “is committed to the protection of natural habitats. The focus of Olin is the temporary support of smaller organizations and projects.” “Olin gGmbH was founded in May 2012 by Alexander Szlovák. It receives its financial resources from his private foundation.”

Investigating corporate influence (EU food and agriculture policies)
& strengthening EU lobbying regulation

€ 50,000

Reset

Reset provides "grants and contracts while working alongside partners with a shared policy, technology, and advocacy agenda in countries with immediate opportunities for change. Our goal is to stop Big Tech companies from profiting off public harm by resetting the rules for online media. Every other major industry – from automotive to pharmaceutical, telecommunications to banking – must follow rules that protect the public interest. Tech giants should be no different.

Investigating corporate influence & strengthening EU lobbying regulation

€ 70,167

TOP Fund

CS Fund seeks to create an equitable democracy, achieve a just transition to a regenerative economy and food system, and mitigate climate chaos.

Agribusiness Campaign

€ 11,360

Polden Puckham Charitable Foundation

The Polden Puckham Charitable Foundation (PPCF) is a grant-giving trust with Quaker family roots. Their assets have been given to the Foundation by some family members and the capital originated from (formerly) Quaker owned businesses. PPCF's priority is "to address systemic threats by seeking to change policy and attitudes at a national, European or international level

Fossil Free Politics Campaign

€ 112,522

Civitates

Civitates provides funding for civil society actors to come together, revitalise public discourse, and ensure that all voices are heard. Because we need a strong civil society to shape vibrant and open European democracies that work for all.

Economic Justice

€ 30,000

Grassroots Foundation

The Grassroots Foundation was founded in 1999 with the goal of supporting civil society movements in their struggles for the protection of nature and the respect for human rights. Grassroots aims to strengthen non-governmental groups and movements in their efforts to challenge destructive and undemocratic development practices that many governments and corporations are promoting.

Environmental Justice

€ 15,000

Total grant funding in 2023

€881,594