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Around 97 full-time lobbyists defend the interests of the tobacco industry in Brussels, and the industry’s total annual lobbying budget in the EU capital exceeds €5.3 million, according to new research by Corporate Europe Observatory. But these figures are only the tip of the iceberg. And a key Dalligate-related question remains: is the mystery “company with expertise in EU affairs” allegedly working with Silvio Zammit, the political associate of former Health Commissioner John Dalli, in the register?

Ex-Commissioner John Dalli knowingly met with lobbyists who were not registered in the European Commission and European Parliament’s Transparency Register. Lobbyists who choose to hide from the public who they're lobbying for, on what subject, or how much money they’re spending to influence public policy. Lobbyists who work in the shadows. Shocking? Yes, but it is a very common practice in the Commission to meet with unregistered lobbyists, a sure-fire indicator that despite what it says, the Commission is not really concerned about lobby transparency.

Harsh loan conditions and a wave of EU-laws that prescribe neoliberal policies have triggered a major attack on welfare and democracy in Europe. Can it get any worse? A look at the proposals for a fiscal union and deeper economic integration shows quite clearly that it can.

Over the last week an increasingly unclear and fraught picture of a major European lobbying scandal has been unfolding. “Dalligate” or “snusgate” has been heralded as “the biggest tobacco industry interference in public health policy at the European level”, and led to the unprecedented resignation – or maybe dismissal - of Maltese Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy, John Dalli. Given the Commission's normally relaxed attitude to industry lobbying, this was surprising. In fact, this is the first time a Commissioner has been removed over a lobby scandal. Unfortunately there's no reason

The resignation of the EU Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy John Dalli highlights the need for stronger measures to regulate EU lobbying to rule out the risk of privileged access and political corruption in EU decision-making. CEO outlines the need for the Commission to take action in five areas to tackle privileged access and prevent corruption.

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.

Complaint filed to the European Ombudsman against the European Commission for failing to curb the revolving door through proper implementation of the EU Staff Regulations, by Corporate Europe Observatory, Greenpeace, Lobbycontrol and Spinwatch.

Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) submitted four complaints to the EU Transparency Register's secretariat, following an article published illustrating that the register is still incomplete and inconsistent.

The European banking union has been presented as a cure to the epidemic of bank collapses. Tougher supervision is to make sure we get the financial sector on track. But in the end, the ambitious new project looks more like a renewed push for a deeper single market. The banks themselves are happy.