revolving doors
March 27, 2013 - 12:04
The Dalligate scandal entered a new stage last week when Swedish Match admitted that they knew a key lobby meeting with Mr. Dalli, where the alleged 60 million euro bribe was offered, had not in fact taken place, and claimed that it was EU anti-fraud agency OLAF that had instructed them to stick to the erroneous story. Corporate Europe Observatory has today taken several new steps to increase the pressure on Barroso and OLAF to clear the smoke around Dalligate, including complaints against Swedish Match and OLAF, and freedom of information requests about Swedish Match lobbyists who went through the revolving door from the EU institutions.
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.
October 16, 2012 - 13:51
The Commission's laissez-faire approach to the "revolving door" has allowed former employees to sell their knowledge and influence to industry, while industry lobbyists are recruited to work on the staff. Rules exist, but are not being properly implemented - and when breaches do occur, no real sanctions are imposed. Corporate Europe Observatory joined Greenpeace, Lobbycontrol and Spinwatch to submit a complaint to the European Ombudsman, as we believe this situation undermines the credibility of EU decision making, and contributes to the corporate capture of the EU.
July 25, 2012 - 14:45
The revolving door has been in the headlines again in recent weeks with the speedy departure of a top official from the EU's medicines agency to a prominent law firm. Such moves, known as going through the revolving door, can allow the private sector to 'capture' or unduly influence the work of the public sector and it is vital that all public authorities including the EU agencies and the European Commission take this threat seriously. This example and other recent revolving door cases again raise questions as to how well the EU institutions implement the current rules, and whether the Commission will seize the initiative to tighten up on the loopholes which undermine them.
July 23, 2012 - 16:30
It seems as if barely a week goes past these days without a high-level summit taking place in Brussels to discuss issues relating to the euro-zone crisis. Much has been said about the roots of the crisis but no one can deny that in the background is the lack of trust that people have in their national politicians and European institutions.
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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